Healing Touch International, Inc. - research

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research - death, dying, hospice

DEATH/DYING/HOSPICE and PALLIATIVE CARE

The latest research on Healing Touch to assist with death, dying, and palliative care is listed here. More complete information about these studies is available in the Healing Touch International Research Survey. [MORE...]

Use of Healing Touch Energy Therapy in Improving the Quality of Life Among the Dying. Neil Gilbert, MSW, CHTP, Michele Goldberg, MSW, CHTP, Jessica Ziembroski MSW, MA, and Robert Bossarte MA

Individuals who were involved with the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care of St Joseph, Marshall, and Elkhart counties in Indiana were participants in this study. Healing Touch was done in their homes. Specific outcomes monitored during the study were 1) quality of life, 2) physical symptoms, and 3) spiritual meaning. The study enrolled 55 subjects randomized to a Healing Touch group or standard care group. The results showed improvement in the Healing Touch group with decrease in physical symptoms and less change in physical functioning over time as compared to worsening in the control group. Those in the Healing Touch group showed no change in interpersonal relationships whereas the standard group showed slightly more difficulty. The transcendent and well being domains were more improved in the standard group. The Healing Touch group reported increased relaxation, increased relief of pain, spiritual benefit, increased calmness and improved breathing.

Healing Touch in the Hospice Environment. John Freese, PhD, CHTP

Under the sponsorship of Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado, the use of Healing Touch was explored as a therapeutic and palliative tool for the treatment and support of hospice patients. Eighteen hospice patients and one caregiver were given a total of 305 HT sessions ranging from 1-30 or more sessions lasting from 15 minutes to one hour. The practitioners found that initially erratic and unstable energy fields seemed to open and stabilize rapidly as the number of therapy sessions mounted, and generally remained so until the patient approached the period of active dying. The service was found to be beneficial to the patients and was continued.

The Introduction of Healing Touch into a Hospice Unit. Mari Kelley, RN, CHTP, Terry Sparks, and Julie Jones

A pilot study was conducted at The Hampton Veteran Affairs Medical Center Hospice Unit to introduce Healing Touch in August of 2004. Four of the 8 patients on the unit requested the therapy. Patients receiving treatment expressed satisfaction, citing relief of constipation, and reduction in leg swelling and pain. Usage of pain medications declined. Families and staff on the unit expressed positive views regarding Healing Touch.

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