Review of studies of healing touch.
OBJECTIVE
To review studies of healing touch and its implications for practice and research.


METHODS
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.


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.
Wardell
Diane Wind
DW
University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, School of Nursing, 1100 Holcombe Blvd. 5th Floor, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Diane.Wardell@uth.tmc.edu
Weymouth
Kathryn F
KF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D015982:Bias; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D019124:Therapeutic Touch / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*