Review of studies of healing touch

Author: Wardell DW//Weymouth KF
Affiliation: University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, School of Nursing, 1100 Holcombe Blvd. 5th Floor, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Diane.Wardell@uth.tmc.edu
Conference/Journal: J Nurs Scholarsh
Date published: 2004
Other: Volume ID: 36 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 147-54 , Special Notes: Comment in: • J Nurs Scholarsh. 2004;36(4):288; author reply 288-9 , Word Count: 88


PURPOSE: To review studies of healing touch and its implications for practice and research. DESIGN: A review of the literature from published works, abstracts from conference proceedings, theses, and dissertations was conducted to synthesize information on healing touch. Works available until June 2003 were referenced. METHODS: The studies were categorized by target of interventions and outcomes were evaluated. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Over 30 studies have been conducted with healing touch as the independent variable. Although no generalizable results were found, a foundation exists for further research to test its benefits.