Does Therapeutic Touch Help Reduce Pain and Anxiety in Patients With Cancer?

Abstract

With more than 10 million patients with cancer in the United States, pain and symptom management is an important topic for oncology nurses. Complementary therapies, such as therapeutic touch, may offer nurses a nonpharmacologic method to ease patients' pain. Using 12 research studies, the authors examined the evidence concerning the effectiveness of this type of treatment in reducing pain and anxiety.

Effects of Therapeutic Touch on Anxiety, Vital Signs, and Cardiac Dysrhythmia in a Sample of Iranian Women Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization

“…Pain and anxiety, plasma T-lymphocyte in burn patients Garrard (1995) Randomized controlled trial Activation of immunological system in patients with AIDS Snyder (1995) Quasi-experimental Agitation behavior of patients with dementia Gagne (1994) Quasi-experimental Anxiety Heidt (1981) Quasi-experimental Anxiety of hospitalized patients Monroe (2009) Systematic review Pain and quality of life in fibromyalgia patients Jackson (2008) Review Pain and anxiety in patients with cancer Note: a. Massage therapy and Healing Touch. b.…”

Energy Healing for Cancer: A Critical Review

“…The term 'energy' is a common term in CAM. So-called energy based therapies, some of which are also practiced by nurses, have been mentioned in other reviews as suitable for integration into conventional care [2][3][4]. In this article we explore the evidence base of the effectiveness and efficacy of therapies based on 'energy healing' for cancer patients and discuss the adequacy of research methods for future research in this area.…”

Oncology Pain and Complementary Therapy

“…Therapeutic touch is another form of healing where the practitioner's hands direct human energy (Jackson et al, 2008). It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us and causes us to be alive (International Center for Reiki Training, 2010;Jackson et al, 2008). It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us and causes us to be alive (International Center for Reiki Training, 2010;Jackson et al, 2008).…”

“…Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Therapeutic touch, healing touch, and Reiki are types of touch energy and are based on the theory that the body, mind, and emotions combine to form a complex energy field (Jackson et al, 2008). Therapeutic touch, healing touch, and Reiki are types of touch energy and are based on the theory that the body, mind, and emotions combine to form a complex energy field (Jackson et al, 2008).…”

“…Therapeutic touch: In a literature review, Jackson et al (2008) examined 12 studies evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic touch in reducing pain and anxiety among patients with cancer. According to the analysis, therapeutic touch and other touch-energy therapies are effective in relieving physical and psychological symptoms (e.g., pain, anxiety) in patients with cancer.…”