The effect of therapeutic touch on comfort & anxiety of elderly nursing home residents

Nowadays nurses consider the energy interaction with the environment of patients during nursing care. Therapeutic touch is an integrative technique which is used for a specific purpose and intent of the universal energy and affection that helps patient finding the balance and attaining health. This study is an experimental research (randomized control ) which was conducted to investigate the impact of Therapeutic Touch (TT) on the comfort and anxiety of the elderly living in nursing home. The research had been carried in Zübeyde Hanım Nursing Home, in İzmir, between August 15, 2015 and August 15, 2016. 264 elderly in the 60-89 age range, created researh universe. In order to determine the extend to which sample to be included in research, Power Analysis was performed. The sample of study were consisted of 60 elderly, reflecting the selection criteria. 30 of them represent the experimental group and the rest represent control group. Standardized Mini Mental State Examination (SMMT) applied to the elderly. TT applied to the elderly who have normal mental activity, according to test results. The data of the study had been collected by using Elderly Identification Form (EIF), General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ) and Situational Anxiety Scale (SAS).Informed Consent Form and written consent was obtained both experimental group and control group. Permission was obtained from participants and their nursing home. TT and control group gathered with basic randomization. Age and gender took undercontrol with basic randomization to prevent conscious or unconscious bias, during research. The elderly were followed for 5 days, consecutively. There was not any attempt to the elderly in the control group; the experimental group elderly applied for 20 minutes TT for 5 days duration at the same time of the day. Statistical Package for Soocial Science (SPSS) 20.0 version was used for analysis of research data. Descriptive characteristics of individuals's data analyse was done by number, percentage distributions and chi-square homogeneity test in TT and control group. Significant difference was found between measurements, statistically among TT and control group, at five repeated measurement's total point averages of GCQ (p<0.05). The difference between five repeated measurement's total point averages of SAS was examined, statistically significant difference was found among TT and control group (p<0.05). As a results of the study, it is seen with significant that TT reduces anxiety by increasing the comfort level on the elderly living in nursing home. According to the positive results of the TT on anxiety and comfort, it can be recommended as an independent nursing practice.