Tungpalan, Wella Kate D.

BSN IV - D2

“Effect of Therapeutic Touch in Patients with Cancer: a Literature Review”

Conclusion:

The study is a Literature review wherein the researchers searched journals, articles
and studies, from year 1990 to 2015, regarding the effect of therapeutic touch on pain,
nausea, fatigue, anxiety and such. There were 334 articles found and 17 articles passed
through the criteria. Out of the 17 articles, 6 were chosen to be in the final data set.
Researchers then analyzed the results of these studies and come up with the positive
effect of therapeutic touch on pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety and quality of life. One of the
studies by Diener et al found out that participants reported relaxation, spiritual uplifting,
and greater mobility after receiving therapeutic touch. Also, a study by Meehan et al
found out that physical status such as pain, appetite, and sleep were enhanced;
behavioral markers such as worry, outbursts, and restlessness were decreased; and
behaviors that made the jobs of the staff easier, such as compliance with daily routine,
decreased medications, and increased functional ability, all supported the use of TT for
this population. The results of this study could be supported by a research conducted by
Marta et al entitled “The effectiveness of Therapeutic Touch on pain, depression and
sleep in patients with chronic pain: clinical trial”wherein it is concluded that the
Therapeutic Touch was effective to decrease pain intensity and depressive attitudes and
symptoms, as well as to improve sleep quality.

Significance on

Nursing Research - since the studies involved were published in the year 1990 to 2015,
this could give motivation to other researchers to conduct new studies on the effect of
therapeutic touch in this present time.

Nursing Practice - since therapeutic touch is a non-invasive procedure, this is very

convenient to the nurses. Also, it reduced the probability of drug dependency of the
patient and the adverse effects of pharmacological interventions.

Nursing Education - knowing the proper technique/skill might be considered in the

curriculum since the effectiveness of it is already proven.

Nursing professional - through the therapeutic touch, bond between the nurse and
the patient is also improved which makes the work of nurse a lot easier since there is
already good rapport hence good compliance of the patient to any kind of intervention.

References: Tabatabaee, A. et al (2016). Effect of Therapeutic Touch in Patients with

Cancer: a Literature Review. Med Arch. 70(2): 142-147. Retrieved February 19, 2018 from
doi: 10.5455/medarh.2016.70.142-147.
The effectiveness of Therapeutic Touch on pain, depression and sleep in
patients with chronic pain: clinical trial

Ilda Estefani Ribeiro MartaI; Sueli Santiago BaldanII; Ani Fabiana BertonIII; Michele PavamIV; Maria
Júlia Paes da SilvaV

I
RN. Ph.D. in Fundamental Nursing. Adjunct Professor, Nursing Course at Federal University of
Goiás, Jataí Campus. Goiás, GO, Brazil. iestefani@itelefonica.com.br
II
RN. Specialist in Family Health. Master's student in Health Promotion at Universidade de Franca.
Faculty, Nursing Course at Faculdades Integradas de Fernandópolis, Fundação Educacional de
Fernandópolis. Fernandópolis, SP, Brazil. ssbaldan@fef.br
III
RN. M.Sc. in Psychiatric Nursing. Faculty, Nursing Course at Faculdades Integradas de
Fernandópolis, Fundação Educacional de Fernandópolis. Fernandópolis, SP, Brazil. aniberton@fef.br
IV
RN, Graduate Student in Occupational Health Nursing, Centro de Aperfeiçoamento e
Pós-Graduação, Fundação Educacional de Fernandópolis. Fernandópolis, SP, Brazil. mipavam@fef.br
V
RN. Full Professor at Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, University of São Paulo School of
Nursing. juliaps@usp.br

Correspondence addressed to

ABSTRACT

This research aimed to check the effectiveness of Therapeutic Touch on decreased pain intensity,
depression self-assessment scores and improved sleep quality. A clinical before-after trial is
presented. The study was carried out at a Basic Health Unit in Fernandópolis, SP-Brazil, involving
30 elderly patients with chronic non-oncologic pain who received 8 sessions of Therapeutic Touch
in accordance with the Krieger-Kunz method. The Visual Analogue Scale for pain was applied
before and after each session, and Beck Depression Inventory and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality
Index before the first and after the last session. Data analysis showed a significant decrease
(p<0.05) in pain intensity, depression self-assessment scores and the sleep quality index. It is
concluded that the Therapeutic Touch was effective to decrease pain intensity and depressive
attitudes and symptoms, as well as to improve sleep quality.