The Effect of Healing Touch on Critical Care Patients' Vital Signs: A Pilot Study

Theresa M Davis1, Mary Ann Friesen, Vicki Lindgren

  • 1Inova enVision eICU, Falls Church, Virginia (Dr Davis); Inova Health System Research, Falls Church, Virginia (Dr Friesen); Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, Fairfax, Virginia (Ms Lindgren); Inova Loudoun Hospital, Leesburg, Virginia (Ms Golino); Inova Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, Virginia (Ms Jackson); Handcrafted Health, LLC, Oxford, Connecticut (Ms Mangione); Inova Nursing Professional Development, Falls Church, Virginia (Ms Swengros); and College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Dr Anderson).

To determine the impact of Healing Touch on vital signs, adult intensive care unit patients were recruited from multiple hospital sites. Both pain and agitation improved and there was a significant change in hemodynamics that reflected a calming effect. Healing Touch may be considered a respected addition to symptom management.