Citation

Tsai LC, Chien SC, Ruan FF, Hsieh HF. Journal of Nursing and Healthcare Research 2009; 5(1): 42-50.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the efficacy of spousal body touch on improving the condition of chronic disease patients. Participants included five male and five female patients diagnosed with chronic diseases and their spouses in a medical center in southern Taiwan. Through one-on-one interviews, the study found that body touch benefited chronic ill patients in the following aspects: (1) physical functions (including symptom reduction and sleep quality improvement); (2) psychological functions (including improvements in confidence, safety, ease, and pain); (3) spirituality functions (including enhanced feelings of being loved, responsible, and commited) and (4) social functions (including improved interpersonal relationships and reduced suicide intentions). Another main finding was that patients with chronic diseases faced a physical predicament in terms of the usefulness of their body. In conclusion, body touch administered by the chronic patient's spouse helped improve their physical, psychological, and social functions as well as provided spiritual comfort and support. It is suggested that nurses who take care of patients with chronic diseases employ body touch as an effective intervention to improve the relationship between the patients and their spouses and to facilitate holistic nursing care that embraces physical, psychological, spiritual and social aspects.

Language: en

Keywords

Efficacy; Body touch; Partner; Patients with chronic disease