The effects of therapeutic touch on anxiety and cardiac dysrhythmia in cardiac catheterization clients

Abstract

This research is a quasi-experimental study that was performed in a Tehran hospital. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of therapeutic touch on anxiety, vital signs and cardiac dysrhythmia in cardiac catheterization female clients. The non-random sample consisted of 71 subjects, that case 3 was omitted for some reason. 68 clients were randomly assigned to: experimental (26), placebo (21) and control group (21). Experimental group received therapeutic touch for 10-15 minutes (one hour before catheterization). Placebo group received mimic therapeutic touch (without centering or intent to help) and control group did not receive any therapy.

Basic data collected by Spielberger anxiety test, check list of cardiac dysrhythmia and paper of record vital signs before and during catheterization.

Analysis of data was computerized adopting SPSS package software.

Results:

Finding of this study indicated: therapeutic touch caused a reduction in the state of anxiety (p=000), no effect on trait anxiety. In addition, therapeutic touch was effective on systolic blood pressure (p=0.002), pulse rate (p=000) and respiratory rate (p=0.0014) during catheterization and effective on cardiac dysrhythmia only on sinus tachycardia (p=0.005).

Conclusions:

Results suggest this method is effective on anxiety in stressful situations.