Touch in health professional practice: a review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Professionalism
• Clinical Communication

Background:

• The #MeToo movement and increased awareness of abuse have complicated the perception of clinical touch.
• Physical contact in healthcare is context-specific and can be viewed negatively due to gender and power dynamics.
• Navigating the complexities of touch is essential for effective and compassionate patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept and use of touch in medicine, nursing, and dentistry.
• To identify different types of physical touch within health education.
• To provide guidance on incorporating the nuances of touch into healthcare curricula.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review of relevant textbooks and research.
• Inclusion of the authors' clinical experiences.
• Analysis of touch in the context of medical, nursing, and dental education.

Main Results:

• Two primary types of physical touch were identified in health learning and teaching: expressive and procedural.
• The study highlights the dual nature of touch in clinical interactions.
• Recognition of the distinct roles and implications of each touch type.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare learners and educators must be prepared to address the complexities of touch in professional behavior.
• Integrating the concept of touch into entry-level curricula is vital.
• Strategies for faculty development regarding the appropriate use of touch are proposed.