Therapeutic Touch(®) in a geriatric Palliative Care Unit - A retrospective review.

Author: Senderovich H1, Ip ML2, Berall A3, Karuza J4, Gordon M5, Binns M6, Wignarajah S3, Grossman D7, Dunal L8
Affiliation:
1Baycrest, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada; Department Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada; Division of Palliative Care, University of Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: hsenderovich@baycrest.org.
2Yee Hong Center for Geriatric Care, Canada.
3Baycrest, Toronto, Canada.
4Baycrest, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada.
5Baycrest, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada; Division of Palliative Care, University of Toronto, Canada.
6Baycrest, Toronto, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada; Rotman Research Institute, University of Toronto, Canada.
7Baycrest, Toronto, Canada; Department Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada; Division of Palliative Care, University of Toronto, Canada.
8Baycrest, Toronto, Canada; Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Canada.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Clin Pract.
Date published: 2016 Aug
Other: Volume ID: 24 , Pages: 134-8 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.06.002. Epub 2016 Jun 21. , Word Count: 286

Complementary therapies are increasingly used in palliative care as an adjunct to the standard management of symptoms to achieve an overall well-being for patients with malignant and non-malignant terminal illnesses. A Therapeutic Touch Program was introduced to a geriatric Palliative Care Unit (PCU) in October 2010 with two volunteer Therapeutic Touch Practitioners providing treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a retrospective review of Therapeutic Touch services provided to patients in an in-patient geriatric palliative care unit in order to understand their responses to Therapeutic Touch.

METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review was conducted on both patients who received Therapeutic Touch as well as a random selection of patients who did not receive Therapeutic Touch from October 2010-June 2013. Client characteristics and the Therapeutic Touch Practitioners' observations of the patients' response to treatment were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS: Patients who did not receive Therapeutic Touch tended to have lower admitting Palliative Performance Scale scores, shorter length of stay and were older. Based on a sample of responses provided by patients and observed by the Therapeutic Touch practitioner, the majority of patients receiving treatment achieved a state of relaxation or sleep.

CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective chart review suggests that implementation of a TT program for an inpatient geriatric Palliative Care Unit is feasible, and appears to be safe, and well-tolerated. Moreover, patient responses, as recorded in the Therapeutic Touch practitioners' session notes, suggest beneficial effects of Therapeutic Touch for a significant number of participants with no evidence of negative sequelae. Therefore, the use of TT in this difficult setting appears to have potential value as an adjunct or complementary therapy to help patients relax.

Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS: Complementary; Gerontology; Palliative; Symptoms; Therapy

PMID: 27502814 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.06.002

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