This study investigated the effectiveness of using Healing Touch modalities with adult patients experiencing chronic pain in the clinic setting. Pain intensity and the pain experience were compared before and after each Healing Touch session in 18 subjects. Data analysis revealed significant change in both pain and the pain experience. In addition to pain relief subjects reported increased relaxation and better overall perspective toward everyday life.

 

A Pilot Study of a Bio-Field Therapy for Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury.  Diane Wind Wardell, PhD, RNC, Gabriel Tan, PhD, Diana Rintala, PhD, and Zhigang Duan MD,MS

 

The purpose of this study was to assess the possible role of Healing Touch in modulating chronic neuropathic pain and its associated psychological distress in veterans post-spinal cord injury. Twenty-nine veterans were assigned to either the Healing Touch or Guided Progressive Muscle Relaxation group. The findings revealed a large variation between individuals and groups. Pain, fatigue, depression and confusion decreased in the Healing Touch group. Satisfaction with life showed a trend to increase in the Healing Touch group. Two participants reported significant pain reduction. One participant reported initial pain reduction and then a return to previous levels of pain. Another reported overall relaxation but no change in symptoms, and three reported no perceived changes.

 

The Effects of Healing Touch on Pain and Anxiety in Patients with End-Stage Liver Disease Carol Hjersted-Smith, RN, CHTP/I; Susan Jones, MS, RN, CCNS/Rx, CCRN-P

This pilot study explored the use of HT in pain and anxiety management for patients with end stage liver disease. Thirty patients were enrolled in the study and received a 30-minute Healing Touch therapy session three times per week throughout their hospitalization. Pre and post session interviews with pain and anxiety rating scales were completed. Pre and post assessments of delirium were completed by the therapist. The changes in pain and anxiety were significantly reduced. Information obtained from the delirium assessment failed to yield information that was useful in this study. In conclusion Healing Touch therapy was found to be effective for a majority of the patients with end stage liver disease who were enrolled in this study.

Pain Management Outcomes of Healing Touch Interventions.  Judi Fouladbakhsh RN, PhD, APRN, BC, AHN-C

This descriptive study examined pain management outcomes of Healing Touch interventions for 839 Healing Touch treatments on more than 400 clients who came to the Healing Touch Center of Farmington Hills over a two-year period. Analysis revealed a significant decrease in reported pain, and significant increase in energy flow as measured by practitioner assessment.

The Use of Healing Touch in Adults with Hepatitis C Receiving Interferon: A Pilot Study.  Ann Taylor, PhD(c), RN

An experimental pretest/posttest design randomized controlled trial was conducted with adults with Hepatitis C during interferon treatment. The purpose of this study was to test a protocol to determine the effects of Healing Touch on fatigue in individuals with hepatitis C virus. Seventeen subjects were randomly assigned to Healing Touch or a similar placebo treatment over a 3-week period. There were no significant immediate or overtime differences between groups for fatigue.  The Healing Touch group, however, had lower scores on self-reported physical functional limitations at the end of the study.

The Evaluation of Healing Touch for Headache Patients.  Susan Kiley, CHTPT

Two small studies with Healing Touch were conducted with individuals experiencing headaches. The first study involved six patients with chronic headache. Data showed that their utilization of the health care system dropped dramatically in the six months following Healing Touch as compared to their utilization in the six months prior to initiation of treatment. Because of these results the researcher was asked to repeat her study as a small pilot with participants who had TMJ (tempo-mandiblular joint pain). Six randomly-selected patients with TMJ were treated with results being similar to those with the headache patients.

The Effect of Healing Touch on Pain and Relaxation.  Lori Protzman

 

This quality assurance project collected data on in-patients and outpatients receiving Healing Touch treatments. Patients rated before their session and again after (unless asleep in the hospital following their session) on a ten point scale. Of the 280 sessions the pain scale levels dropped by four. No data was extracted on relaxation score, as many times patients were asleep.

 

The Lived Experience of Spiritual Healing Touch in Older Women with Chronic Pain.  Mary Gay Kelley, MS, RN, CHTP

 

This phenomenological study explored the experience of Spiritual Healing Touch in three older women with chronic pain. Three core concepts emerged to formulate a structure of the lived experience of Spiritual Healing Touch. The core concepts identified were: 1) transcendence of body, mind and spirit, emerges with relaxation while pain intensifies-dissipates in the presence of integrated wholeness; 2) co-transcending the physical boundaries of energy emerges into the unique experience of beneficial comfort in the presence of transformation uncertainty; and 3) energy is experienced and meaning and value is placed on it throughout the treatment process.