title: A survey of views and opinions of health professionals managing thirst in chronic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thirst is a common and burdensome symptom of chronic heart failure (CHF) which affects adherence to self-care practices specifically fluid restriction. Despite this, there is no standard clinical practice for managing the symptom of thirst.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim is to identify the current strategies recommended by health professionals to help relieve thirst in CHF patients and their perceived usefulness of these strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was distributed to attendees of the 8th Annual Scientific Meeting of Australasian Cardiovascular Nursing College.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 42 of 70 respondents to the survey. The majority (33 of 40; 82.5%) had recommended various strategies to alleviate thirst. The most recommended strategy was ice chips (36 of 38; 94.7%). Overall, the respondents reported 'some use' in all of the strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information from this survey may help in the incorporation of thirst-relieving strategies into evidence-based guidelines; further improving the quality of care of patients.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health, Centre for Cardiovascular & Chronic Care , University of Technology Sydney , PO Box 123, Broadway , NSW 2007 , Australia.
authors.forename: Sabine M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Allida
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health, Centre for Cardiovascular & Chronic Care , University of Technology Sydney , PO Box 123, Broadway , NSW 2007 , Australia.
authors.forename: Sally C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health, Centre for Cardiovascular & Chronic Care , University of Technology Sydney , PO Box 123, Broadway , NSW 2007 , Australia.|b St. Vincent's Hospital , Darlinghurst , Australia.|c School of Nursing , John Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: b St. Vincent's Hospital , Darlinghurst , Australia.|d Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute , Darlinghurst , Australia.|e School of Medicine , University of NSW , Kensington , Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health, Centre for Cardiovascular & Chronic Care , University of Technology Sydney , PO Box 123, Broadway , NSW 2007 , Australia.|b St. Vincent's Hospital , Darlinghurst , Australia.|d Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute , Darlinghurst , Australia.
authors.forename: Sajad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shehab
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health, Centre for Cardiovascular & Chronic Care , University of Technology Sydney , PO Box 123, Broadway , NSW 2007 , Australia.
authors.forename: Phillip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012648:Self Care / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013894:Thirst
keywords: cardiovascular; self-care; survey; symptom control