Impact of double moisture technique on throat pain and dysphagia among post-operative Indian patients: A randomized controlled trial

Post-operative pharyngeal discomfort and dysphagia are common issues that interfere with recovery, especially after surgeries involving general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the double moisture technique in reducing sore throat and dysphagia in surgical recovery. Sixty patients were divided into experimental and control groups, with 30 patients each. The experimental group received steam inhalation and saline gargling, while the control group received routine treatment. Assessments were made on the second and third days post-intervention using standardized measures for throat pain and dysphagia. The results indicated a significant decrease in pain and dysphagia scores in the experimental group compared to pre-test values (F = 178.89, P ≤ 0.001; F = 213.76, P ≤ 0.001). The intervention group showed a 44.30% reduction in pain and a 21.58% reduction in dysphagia, while the control group had reductions of 20.60% and 9.66%, respectively. Demographic factors, such as age, comorbidities, BMI, activity level and occupation, also influenced the outcomes in the experimental group.