title: Non-necessary touch in the nursing care of elderly people.
abstract: This study describes the occurrence of non-necessary touching, defined as spontaneous and emotional physical contact between the nurse and patient, in the nursing care of elderly people in long-term care. The analysis was based on observation of nursing situations; any verbal communication occurring in connection with touching was also recorded. A total of 182 situations were studied in which 178 non-necessary touches by the nurse and four by the patient were recorded. Non-necessary touching was used in connection with a wide range of activities: making statements, making requests, waking up, encouraging, explaining, asking, comforting, teasing, telling off, hugging and thanking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Routasalo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D019124:Therapeutic Touch / Q000451:nursing; D014110:Touch; D014743:Videotape Recording