Healing Touch Annotated Bib
Bardia, A., et.al. (2006). Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies in Relieving Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 24 (34): 457-64.
Anecdotal evidence abounds regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies when dealing with issues of pain. One of the clear issues is that there is a lack of rigorous and well-developed scholarly literature on the subject. In this study, 18 trials were reviewed totaling 1,499 patients. Seven trials reported significant benefits using CAM, seven reported intermediate or short-term benefits, and four studies reported no benefits. The researchers conclude that there are a number of variables and a number of types of CAM, all which require more methodologically sound studies in order to determine actual efficacy of individual interventions.
Jones, T., Glover, L. (2012). Exploring the Psychological Processes Underlying Touch:
Lessons From the Alexander Technique. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. EPub: doi 10.1002/cpp.1824.
Any behavioral psychologist knows that touch is extremely significant for human beings. It does, however, cause controversy at times, even with the physical contact of such things as a hug during psychotherapy sessions. In this case, six individuals were interviewed who had received the Alexander Technique, and 111 completed surveys. The data suggests that there is incompatibility between touch and the spoken word, touch is far more believable and real to the receipient. While more research is necessary, it appears that there is a dichotomy between what we hear and what we experience through touch; and appropriate touch strengthens the relationship in almost any occasion.
Kelly, A., et.al. (2004). Therapeutic Touch, Quiet Time, and Dialogue: Perceptions of Women With Breast Cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum. 31 (3): 625-31.
In this study, three aspects of alternative therapy were used on women with breast cancer: therapeutic touch, controlled quiet time, and dialogue intervention. Eighteen women, all in the early stages of breast cancer, were interviewed at the completion of an experimental or control intervention that was administered at the women's home before and after breast cancer surgery. Content analysis showed that there were few differences between the control and experimental groups, although only participants who received the experimental interventions reported body sensations. A clear point was dependent upon the research nurse; most found their concern and empathy a measurable comfort.
Post-White, J., et.al. (2003). Therapeutic Massage and Healing Touch Improve Symptoms
In Cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2 (4): 332-44.
This particular study used only Therapeutic Massage and Healing Touch in a randomized cross-over study on 230 subjects. MT and HT lowered blood pressure, respiratory rate, and heart rate; Massage lowered anxiety and Healing touch lowered fatigue. Pain ratings were lower after MT and HT, even with less NASIDs. There were no effects on nausea. The study concluded that MT and HT are more effective in reducing pain, mood, and fatigue when used in conjunction with traditional therapies.
Rosa, L, et.al. (1998). A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch. Journal of the American Medical
Association. 279 (13): 1005-10
From the time of the shamans, healers have used therapeutic touch to treat a number of human ailments. The basic ideas is that using hands, a healer can manipulate a human energy field about the patient that aids in pain relief and healing. This study focused on 21 TT practitioners who had been using the technique for 1-27 years. The study used a double blind methodology to discover whether they TT healers could correctly identify which of their hands was closest to the investigator's hands. Placement was determined by a random coin flip, and 14 practitioners were tested 10 times, and 7 tested 20 times. Results showed that the correct identification almost mimicked random chance (44%), with no significant correlation between the experience of the p practitioner and the results. Until further evidence is uncovered, the researchers suggest that a failure to substantiate TTs basic claim is evidence that the practice is groundless.
Turner, J., et.al.(2008). The Effect of Therapeutic Touch on Pain and Anxiety in Burn
Victims. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 28 (1): 10-20
The authors of this study wondered whether TT was a sham or could actually produce a lessening of pain in a targeted population. The specific test for burn patients was an alteration of anxiety and plasma T-lymphocyte...
Respiratory Therapy A respiratory therapist is someone who literally has the life of her patients in her hands. I have been fortunate this semester in being able to talk with people who chose this career. I even spent some time shadowing them at their job. I have known for a long time that I wanted a career in the health care field. Becoming a respiratory therapist sounded interesting. Now that I
Respiratory Therapist Professions of caring career project: Where Am I Going? Part 2 Interview Why did you decide to work in this field? My grandmother had asthma, so I have always been acutely aware of the importance of the challenges some people experience with the simple act of breathing. Did you have another career before you went to school to become a ____? What was it like to change from one career to another? I
Crto.on.ca/pdf.PPG/OrdersMC.pdf Ely, E.W., et al. (1999). Large-scale implementation of a respiratory therapist-driven protocol for ventilator weaning. Vol 159 American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine -(2001). Mechanical ventilator weaning protocols-driven by non-physician health-care professionals. Vol 120 Chest: Clinical Investigation in Critical Care Harbrecht, B.G., et al. (2009). Improved outcomes with routine respiratory therapist evaluation of non-intensive care unit surgery patients. Vol 54 # 7, Respiratory Care: Daedalus Enterprises. Retrieved on November 23, 2012 from http://www.upmc.com/careers/pathways/allied-health/respiratory/Documents/ImprovedOutcomes_NICU_Patients.pdf Hess, D.R.(1998).
2008).. This points to the ethical responsibility of nurse educators -- it is not enough to treat the disease, bit one must treat the patient. Failure to provide the proper level of education to a patient is certainly one way to fail them both ethically and medically, bit the opposite can also be true. That is, it is possible to provide too much care -- what is deemed "medically futile
Respiratory Care In Puerto Rico I was a licensed respiratory therapist. When I moved to America, the license that I held was not valid to allow me to continue that line of work. I deliberated whether or not I wanted to pursue a respiratory care degree so as to return to this profession. It is a demanding activity and requires care and patience. However, as I thought about it and
For example, Dr. Gutierrez took me around to the different departments and allowed me to meet and talk with Dustin Bowman, one of his patients. He is 23-year-old, was in the U.S. Air Force and just transferred to Haley Hospital about a week ago. He had a Cervical 1 injury, and his left lung was deflated, which completely affected his entire body. He needs a great deal of respiratory care.
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