Use of physical methods for treatment of the nursing diagnosis of hyperthermia in adult patients at an ICU: a randomized clinical and controlled trial

Since 1986, NANDA-International (NANDA-I) establishes the nursing diagnosis of hyperthermia. However, little is known about what is the best care that must be provided to adult patients with elevated body temperature. Usually, antipyretics are used in association with physical methods to decrease the temperature. Given these considerations, and facing limited knowledge about the best nursing care to adult patients with elevated body temperature admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it is debatable if the use of physical methods (ice packs and warm compresses), associated with antipyretic is more effective than the single administration of antipyretics, to reduce body temperature in adult patients with the nursing diagnosis hyperthermia at ICU. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of application of physical methods (ice packs and warm compresses) associated with administration of antipyretic to reduce body temperature of patients in ICU, with the nursing diagnosis of hyperthermia. METHOD: Randomized clinical and controlled trial, conducted in 2 adult ICUs in a hospital of Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, from March 2012 to May 2013. Sample of 102 patients with body temperature ≥38.3°C of infectious cause. Patients were randomized into three groups: 34 patients received ice packs associated with antipyretic (Intervention I), 34 received warm compresses associated with antipyretic (Intervention II) and 34 received only antipyretic (Control). Tympanic temperature was measured at 15-minute intervals for 3 hours. Descriptive data analysis was used with simple frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and measures of variability. To evaluate the effect of interventions...