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Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch

Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch

The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans

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Touch massage: a pilot study of a complex intervention.

Lenita Lindgren¹, Stefan Lehtipalo, Ola Winsö

¹L Lindgren, RN, MSn, PhD, Department of Nursing, Umeå University and Department of Surgical and Perioperative Science Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Umeå, Sweden.

Nursing in Critical Care

|October 30, 2013

Summary

Touch massage significantly reduced anxiety in patients undergoing elective aortic surgery. This complex intervention, guided by the British Medical Research Council framework, shows promise for post-operative care.

Keywords:

Adult intensive care Care nursing Clinical research Complex interventions Intensive Psychological care of patients Research

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Area of Science:

Nursing
Psychology
Surgical Care

Background:

Touch massage use is increasing, yet systematic studies on its effectiveness are limited.
Complex interventions require multidisciplinary investigation and structured evaluation frameworks.
The British Medical Research Council framework provides guidance for developing and reporting complex interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate a complex touch massage intervention in patients undergoing elective aortic surgery.
To assess the effects of touch massage on anxiety and physiological stress.
To report and evaluate the intervention using the British Medical Research Council framework.

Main Methods:

A pilot randomized controlled study involving 20 patients (10 per group).
Intervention group received touch massage; control group received standard care.
Outcomes measured included self-reported anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y) and physiological stress markers (heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, serum cortisol, insulin, and glucose).

Main Results:

Touch massage significantly reduced self-reported anxiety levels compared to pre-massage levels (p = 0.007).
A significant difference in anxiety levels was observed between the touch massage and control groups post-intervention (p = 0.001).
No significant differences in physiological stress parameters were found between the groups.

Conclusions:

Touch massage effectively decreased anxiety in patients scheduled for elective aortic surgery.
The British Medical Research Council framework proved useful for guiding the intervention's development and evaluation.
Touch massage is a valuable nursing intervention for intensive and post-operative care to manage patient anxiety.