Effect of therapeutic touch on sleep quality and anxiety in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

The purpose is to determine the effect of therapeutic touch (TT) on the sleep quality and anxiety of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) disease.

METHODS

103 patients were randomized in to the two groups: the experimental group, and the control group. In this randomized control study, the patients with COPD in the experimental group were given TT for 10 min between 18:00 and 20:00, one session every day for three consecutive days.

RESULTS

When the experimental group was compared to control group following the intervention, the decrease in the levels of anxiety (p < 0.001) and increase in the sleep quality (p < 0.001) were found to be significant.

CONCLUSION

As a result of the study, it was determined that TT reduced anxiety level and improved sleep quality in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04842903.

A rapid evidence assessment of recent therapeutic touch research

AIM

To synthesize the most recent evidence investigating the effectiveness and safety of therapeutic touch as a complementary therapy in clinical health applications.

DESIGN

A rapid evidence assessment (REA) approach was used to review recent TT research adopting PRISMA 2009 guidelines.

METHODS

CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane databases, Web of Science, PsychINFO and Google Scholar were screened between January 2009-March 2020 for studies exploring TT therapies as an intervention. The main outcome measures were for pain, anxiety, sleep, nausea and functional improvement.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies covering a range of clinical issues were identified, including 15 randomized-controlled trials, four quasi-experimental studies, one chart review study and one mixed methods study including 1,302 patients. Eighteen of the studies reported positive outcomes. Only four exhibited a low risk of bias. All others had serious methodological flaws, bias issues, were statistically underpowered and scored as low-quality studies. No high-quality evidence was found for any of the benefits claimed.

The Effect of Therapeutic Touch on the Comfort and Anxiety of Nursing Home Residents

Nurses are increasingly using energy therapies such as therapeutic touch (TT) in many countries. This research aimed at finding out the effects of TT on comfort and anxiety of nursing home residents. This research is a quasi-experimental randomized control study which was conducted to investigate the impact of TT on the comfort and anxiety of older people living in a nursing home in İzmir, Turkey, between August 2015 and 2016. The sample of the study was formed from 60 older people who fitted the selection criteria, 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Data were collected using a General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ) and a Situational Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A statistically significant difference was found between the measurements of the TT and control groups. According to the results, TT reduces anxiety and increases the comfort level of older people (p < 0.05). Considering the positive results of TT on comfort levels and anxiety, it can be recommended as an independent nursing practice.

Effect of therapeutic touch on daytime sleepiness, stress and fatigue among students of nursing and midwifery: A randomized sham-controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to assess the effect of therapeutic touch on stress, daytime sleepiness, sleep quality and fatigue among students of nursing and midwifery.

METHODS

96 students were randomized into three groups: the therapeutic touch (TT) group, the sham therapeutic touch (STT) group, and the control group. In this randomized sham-controlled study, the TT group was subjected to therapeutic touch twice a week for four weeks with each session lasting 20 min.

RESULTS

When the TT group was compared to the STT and control groups following the intervention, the decrease in the levels of stress (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.001) and daytime sleepiness (p < 0.001), and the increase in the sleep quality (p < 0.001) were found to be significant.

CONCLUSION

It was found that TT, which is one form of complementary therapy, was relatively effective in decreasing the levels of stress, fatigue and daytime sleepiness, and in increasing the sleep quality of university students of nursing and midwifery.

The Effect of Aromatherapy by Rose Essence on Anxiety and Physiological Indices of Conscious Patients Admitted at Intensive Care Units

Background: Anxiety in patients admitted at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is common and usually moderate or severe. Anxiety affects endocrine and physiological responses. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of aromatherapy by rose essence on anxiety and physiological indices of conscious patients admitted at ICU. Methods: In this clinical trial, 60 conscious patients admitted at ICU wards in Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital of Rafsanjan were selected and randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control. In the intervention group, three drops of 10% rose essence were poured on the gauze and placed 20 cm from the patients’ nose on their shirt, and the patients inhaled it for 20 minutes three times a day. In the control group, three drops of distilled water were used likewise. Data collection tools included Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.18. Results: According to the results, in the intervention group, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly increased (paired t-test, P < 0.05) in the second time after the intervention and significantly decreased (paired t-test, P < 0.05) in the third time. The mean oxygen saturation of arterial blood also significantly increased in the second time in this group after the intervention (paired t-test, P = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in anxiety score before and after the intervention in each group. Conclusions: Although aromatherapy using rose essence was statistically significant on some of the physiological indices of conscious patients in ICU, these differences were not clinically significant.

Effect of Therapeutic Touch on Sleep Quality in Elders Living at Nursing Homes

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of therapeutic touch on sleep quality in the elderly people living in the nursing homes. The study is a randomized controlled experimental study (pretest-posttest control group). The sample of the research consisted of 25 elderly people. As a result of the study, although there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the sleep quality of each group, no significant difference was found between the groups (p > 0.05). Therapeutic touch is an effective method of improving the sleep quality of the elders living at a nursing home.

Effects of Hand Massage and Therapeutic Touch on Comfort and Anxiety Living in a Nursing Home in Turkey: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of hand massage and therapeutic touch on comfort and anxiety in the elderly living in nursing homes. The study was designed as a randomized controlled, experimental study (with a pre- and posttest control group). The study population comprised 255 older people aged 65-89 living in a nursing home in Izmir, a province in Turkey. The study sample included 30 older patients, who were assigned to hand massage (HM) (n = 10), therapeutic touch (TT) (n = 10) and control (C) (n = 10) groups. Of the elderly who participated in the study, 50% were female and 80% were single. It was determined that TT and HM decreased the anxiety and increased the comfort levels of the elderly living in the nursing home (p < 0.05). It is thought that nurses can easily integrate HM and TT which are non-medical, non-pharmacologic interventions with no adverse effects into care activities.

Effect of therapeutic care for treating fatigue in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of therapeutic care (TC) for fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

METHODS

A total of 48 breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were randomly divided into the intervention group and the control group, with 24 patients in each group. The patients in the intervention group were treated with TC, while the participants in the control group received the sham intervention. The interventions in both groups were for 30 min/d, 3 days weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome of fatigue was measured by the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI). The secondary outcomes were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). All outcomes were assessed before and after 6 and 12 weeks of the intervention.

RESULTS

The intervention with TC showed greater efficacy than sham TC in decreasing the MFI score after week 6 (P < .05) and week 12 (P < .01) of treatment. Significant differences were also found in the HADS and PSQI between the 2 groups after 12 weeks of treatment (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that TC might decrease fatigue and relieve the anxiety and depression of breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Caring touch as a bodily anchor for patients after sustaining a motor vehicle accident with minor or no physical injuries - a mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

Patients who sustain a motor vehicle accident may experience long-term distress, even if they are uninjured or only slightly injured. There is a risk of neglecting patients with minor or no physical injuries, which might impact future health problems. The aim of this study was to explore patients' subjective experiences and perspectives on pain and other factors of importance after an early nursing intervention consisting of "caring touch" (tactile massage and healing touch) for patients subjected to a motor vehicle accident with minor or no physical injuries.

METHODS

A mixed method approach was used. The qualitative outcomes were themes derived from individual interviews. The quantitative outcomes were measured by visual analogue scale for pain (VAS, 0-100), sense of coherence (SOC), post-traumatic stress (IES-R) and health status (EQ-5D index and EQ-5D self-rated health). Forty-one patients of in total 124 eligible patients accepted the invitation to participate in the study. Twenty-seven patients completed follow-up after 6 months whereby they had received up to eight treatments with either tactile massage or healing touch.

RESULTS

Patients reported that caring touch may assist in trauma recovery by functioning as a physical "anchor" on the patient's way of suffering, facilitating the transition of patients from feeling as though their body is "turned off" to becoming "awake". By caring touch the patients enjoyed a compassionate care and experience moments of pain alleviation. The VAS pain ratings significantly decreased both immediately after the caring touch treatment sessions and over the follow-up period. The median scores for VAS (p < 0.001) and IES-R (p 0.002) had decreased 6 months after the accident whereas the EQ-5D index had increased (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences of the SOC or EQ-5D self-rated health scores over time.

CONCLUSIONS

In the care of patients suffering from a MVA with minor or no physical injuries, a caring touch intervention is associated with patients' report of decreased pain and improved wellbeing up to 6 months after the accident.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Id: NCT02610205 . Date 25 November 2015.

Effects of Psychoeducation on Mental Health in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Background

Patients with coronary heart disease are at high risk for mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Psychoeducation is a well-known intervention for psychiatric patients, but its use has been limited in other health conditions, such as coronary heart disease.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of psychoeducation on mental health in coronary heart disease patients.

Patients and Methods

This randomized clinical trial included 70 patients with coronary heart disease at Shahid Beheshti hospital, in Kashan, Iran, in 2014. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: the experimental group, which received eight sessions of psychoeducation, and the control group, which received routine care. Data were collected with the Goldberg mental health questionnaire (GHQ) and were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests performed with SPSS version 16.

Results

The means of overall GHQ scores were significantly decreased post-test in the intervention group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant in the overall GHQ scores (P = 0.0001). A significant difference was observed between the mean GHQ scores of the intervention group prior to and after the psychoeducational program (PEP) intervention (30 ± 4.66 vs. 20.50 ± 3.30) (P = 0.0001). No significant changes were observed in the control group pre- and post-test (P = 0.07).

Conclusions

Psychoeducation resulted in improved mental health in patients with coronary heart disease. Therefore, it is recommended that this approach be performed as a complementary, effective, non-invasive, low-cost nursing intervention to reduce psychological problems in these patients.

Therapeutic touch for nausea in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: Composing a treatment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Therapeutic touch (TT) is independent nursing intervention which is effective on nausea induced by chemotherapy but technique, steps and variables affected by this therapy are not yet well known. The aim of this study was to elicit descriptions of how TT is used with cancer patients, providing a basis for the systematic use and evaluation of TT with patients.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

In this research, 108 patients were examined with intentional sampling and random allocation in 3 groups (control, placebo and intervention) in 2013 (each group 36). Intervention received therapeutic touch (touching of first energy layer) and demographic form, visual analog scale (VAS) for intensity of nausea, check list for duration and times of nausea in the morning, noon, afternoon and night at acute phase were used. Data were analyzed by Kruskal Wallis, χ(2) and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS

Duration, frequency and intensity of nausea were significantly lower in the test group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). The mean duration of intervention (whole process) was 21.38 min [SD 6.04]. In 69.4% of women there was a need for re-intervention after reassessment phase.

CONCLUSION

Results of this randomized control trial showed that TT is effective on duration, times and intensity of nausea; therefore, TT can be used as an alternative method for patients who are willing to use this technique.

The effectiveness of an accessibility-enhanced multimedia informational educational programme in reducing anxiety and increasing satisfaction of patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of an accessibility-enhanced multimedia informational educational programme in reducing anxiety and increasing satisfaction with the information and materials received by patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation.

BACKGROUND

Cardiac catheterisation is one of the most anxiety-provoking invasive procedures for patients. However, informational education using multimedia to inform patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation has not been extensively explored.

DESIGN

A randomised experimental design with three-cohort prospective comparisons.

METHODS

In total, 123 consecutive patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: regular education; (group 1), accessibility-enhanced multimedia informational education (group 2) and instructional digital videodisc education (group 3). Anxiety was measured with Spielberger's State Anxiety Inventory, which was administered at four time intervals: before education (T0), immediately after education (T1), before cardiac catheterisation (T2) and one day after cardiac catheterisation (T3). A satisfaction questionnaire was administrated one day after cardiac catheterisation. Data were collected from May 2009-September 2010 and analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, one-way analysis of variance, Scheffe's post hoc test and generalised estimating equations.

RESULTS

All patients experienced moderate anxiety at T0 to low anxiety at T3. Accessibility-enhanced multimedia informational education patients had significantly lower anxiety levels and felt the most satisfied with the information and materials received compared with patients in groups 1 and 3. A statistically significant difference in anxiety levels was only found at T2 among the three groups (p = 0·004).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings demonstrate that the accessibility-enhanced multimedia informational education was the most effective informational educational module for informing patients about their upcoming cardiac catheterisation, to reduce anxiety and improve satisfaction with the information and materials received compared with the regular education and instructional digital videodisc education.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

As the accessibility-enhanced multimedia informational education reduced patient anxiety and improved satisfaction with the information and materials received, it can be adapted to complement patient education in future regular cardiac care.