Abstract 02
Patricia E. Briggs, MSN, RN4, CCRN, HTCP, HTI/1
Christiana Care Health System
pbriggs@christianacare.org
Title: The Effectiveness of Healing Touch for Anxiety, Stress, and Pain Relief
Objectives (of project and/or presentation): Published research shows that clients experience a reduction in
anxiety, stress, and pain after a Healing Touch session. The goal of this project was to validate and quantify this
reduction in anxiety, stress, and pain experienced after a Healing Touch Session.
Introduction OR Rationale: The Healing Touch ProgramTM is a professional, standardized, multi-level curriculum
based on both spiritual and scientific principles, and research. It is accredited with the American Nurses
Credentialing Center and National Commission for Certifying Agencies, and endorsed by American Holistic Nurses
Association. The practice of Healing Touch is encompassed within the nursing scope of practice. Healing Touch is a
gentle, light, on or off body touch used to balance, energize and support the human energy system. Healing Touch
is known to facilitate a deep sense of calm and relaxation. For the past three years, practitioners of Healing Touch
have offered Healing Touch sessions to staff during Nurses' week at Christiana and Wilmington hospitals as part of
the nursing celebration, and also to introduce them to this energy modality. During the last two years, 213 staff
members who received Healing Touch participated by rating their stress, anxiety, and pain before and after the
session.
Methods: A short survey was used to capture each person's rating of anxiety, stress, and pain before and after
receiving a Healing Touch offering (Likert Scale 1 to 5). The data was analyzed to determine any trends or
correlations between these three parameters.
Results OR Practice Implications: Significant decreases in stress and anxiety were reported. Pain was present but
not as notable. For example before the session, 5% of the participants reported no stress; whereas after the
session 59% reported no stress. The results demonstrate that nurses, and other staff members could benefit from
Healing Touch on a regular basis as part of their self care routine.
Conclusions: A short fifteen minute Healing Touch session significantly reduces anxiety, stress, and pain. The
benefits of Healing Touch have the potential to eventually affect burnout, fatigue, and retention in a positive
manner, thus improving overall staff satisfaction.
References: Healing Touch Program, (2015), www.HealingTouchProgram.
Funding Source: None