Therapeutic Touch

by Sandra Dennis, University of Iowa

Summary

In the various tests used to evaluate TT up to this point, it has been shown that TT does effect the healing process and is a viable scientific method for use in the health care field. Certainly more research should be done to confirm how much of a role TT and other treatments can be used to speed up the healing process. In such research, statistical analysis will continue to play a vital role.

Abstract: An investigation to determine Therapeutic Touch (TT) as a scientific plausible intervention in health related therapy for particular ailments and proper development and growth. By examining studies involving TT, it can be determined whether such therapy is legitimate and should be considered as a viable tool to be included in the overall solution of health related problems.

Introduction
Touch may involve ways of perceiving and representing reality that many people once thought only could be perceived by vision or hearing. Only recent history shows touch being used as a channel for reading, speech signals, pictures, and music (vibrations). We may become aware of our dependence on our sense of touch only when something causes it to malfunction. Touch serves to warn us about impending or immediate danger, for example, through pain sensitivity. The sense of touch is something that just about everybody is familiar with. It is a universal sensation that expands all geographic, racial, and economic boundaries. Therein lies the value of touch as a therapeutic method. It is available to everyone with little or no expense involved with administration.

Therapeutic Touch (TT) was developed in the 1970's by Dr. Deloris Krieger after nine years of research on healing, six years of clinical practice in TT and five years of teaching at New York University. Dr. Krieger defines TT as "a method . . . of using the hands to direct human energies to help or heal someone who is ill." It is a derivative of the Christian laying-on-of-hands technique without the associated religious connotation and, as emphasized by the founder, can be learned by anyone who is motivated by compassion and deeply committed to helping or healing others. In addition to being taught by a number of practitioners during an intensive 1-3 day weekend seminar, it is an integral part of the curricula of various Universities throughout the world. One example of how touch has a therapeutic value can be seen in dealing with babies. Studies have shown that babies that are physically manipulated in a hospital grow and develop at a much faster rate than babies left alone in an institution.

STATISTICAL ASSESSMENT

In evaluating data dealing with TT or any other field that is being studied, the mass of data collected needs to be examined so as to see the relevency of the data. Proper definitions are in order to make sure of a statistical approach.

Definitions

• Unit--the basic objects on which the experiment is done. When the units are human beings, they are called subjects.

• Experiment--deliberately imposing treatment on units or subjects in order to observe the response.

• Response Variable--a variable whose changes we wish to study; an outcome ?variable.

• Explanatory Variable--a variable that explains or causes changes in the response variables. An explanatory variable in an experiment is also called a factor.

• Treatment--any specific experimental condition applied to the units. A treatment is usually a combination of specific values (called levels) of each of the experimental factors.

• Confounded--the effects of two variables on a response variable when they cannot be distinguished from one another.

• Comparative Experimentation--when two equivalent groups of units are set up, the treatment is given to only one group (the experimental group) while treating the second group (the control group) exactly the same in every way except not giving it the treatment, then examining for any differences between the two groups and if found, can be attributed to the effects of the treatment.

vRandom sample--When the sample is selected under conditions such that each element of the population has an equal chance to be included.

• Placebo effect--the response of patients to any treatment in which they have confidence.

• Double-blind technique--when both the subjects and those who evaluate the outcome are ignorant of which treatment was given to each subject.