Qualitative study on thirsty experience and needs of stroke patients with nasal feeding

HUANG Sheng; WANG Zhi; PAN Xi; LI Huiling

doi:10.12102/j.issn.1009-6493.2026.03.017

Abstract：Objective:To explore the experience of thirst and needs in stroke patients with nasal feeding,and to provide reference for the construction of thirst management program for stroke patients with nasal feeding.Methods:A descriptive qualitative research method was used to select 16 stroke patients with thirst after nasal feeding in the Department of Neurology of a tertiary grade A hospital in Suzhou city from August to October 2024.The purposive sampling method was used to conduct semi-structured interviews.Based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms,the data were analyzed by directional content analysis combined with traditional content analysis.Results:A total of five themes were extracted:the characteristics of thirst symptoms(the nature of thirst was burning and knife-like,the time and intensity of occurrence had individual differences,and the degree of distress to patients),the attribution of thirst(physiological factors,psychological factors,environmental factors),the impact of thirst(physical pain,psychological suffering,irrational behavior),the coping of thirst(various coping styles,limitations of coping effects,and concerns about the safety of coping),and unmet needs(emotional and social needs,information needs).Conclusions:The problem of thirst in stroke patients with nasal feeding is prominent.It is suggested that nursing staff should strengthen the understanding of thirst symptoms and carry out multi-dimensional evaluation,identify multiple influencing factors of thirst in the early stage,pay attention to the negative impact of thirst on patients,and develop a thirst management model of nursing staff as the leading factor and family as the unit and co-participation.