Efficacy of therapeutic touch in treating pregnant inpatients who have a chemical dependency.
Chemical dependency is known to complicate about 3.8% of pregnancies in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In this study, 54 English-speaking, hospitalized women were randomly assigned to receive either (a) daily Therapeutic Touch over a 7-day period for 20 minutes each day, (b) shared activity with a registered nurse for 20 minutes over a 7-day period, or (c) standard ward care. Anxiety was measured using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Withdrawal symptoms were measured using a standardized Symptom Checklist. Anxiety scores were significantly less on Days 1, 2, and 3 (p<.05) for the group receiving Therapeutic Touch. Therapeutic Touch may be of value as an adjunctive measure in the treatment of chemical dependency among pregnant women.
British Columbia Women's Hospital, British Columbia, Canada.
Cheryl N
CN
Larden
M Lynne
ML
Palmer
Patricia
P
Janssen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001955:British Columbia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000451:nursing*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019124:Therapeutic Touch / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome