Healing Touch Research
Healing Touch Research Library
Explore published Healing Touch studies organized by topic, population, study type, and clinical setting. This searchable library is designed to help students, practitioners, instructors, healthcare professionals, and the public find research related to Healing Touch.
This library is a curated research resource. Studies vary in design, sample size, intervention methods, comparison groups, and outcomes.
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Cancer care, pain, anxiety, PTSD, dementia, surgery, and more.
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Pilot studies, randomized trials, feasibility studies, reviews, and case reports.
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Use the search and filters below to explore published Healing Touch research by topic, population, study type, and clinical area. You can search for words such as cancer, pain, PTSD, dementia, nurses, surgery, anxiety, or children.
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Type a topic, condition, population, author name, or outcome into the search box to quickly narrow the research list.
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Use the category and study-type filters to browse research areas such as oncology, pain, PTSD, nursing practice, surgery, and dementia.
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Each entry includes citation details and available publication links, such as DOI, PubMed, or full-text records when available.
Research note: Studies vary in design, sample size, intervention methods, comparison groups, and outcomes. This library is intended to help readers explore the published literature and understand the breadth of Healing Touch research.
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Search the Healing Touch Research Library
Use the search box and filters to find studies by topic, population, study type, modality, author, or keyword.
Search tip: Try terms such as cancer, pain, anxiety, PTSD, veterans, nurses, surgery, dementia, children, or cardiac.
| Study | Category | Year | Study Type | Population | Modality | Full Citation | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Effect of Healing Touch on Critical Care Patients’ Vital Signs: A Pilot StudyPilot showed favorable shifts in vital signs in critical care patients following HT. | Cardiovascular & Critical Care | 2020 | Pilot study | Critical care patients | Healing Touch | Davis TM, Friesen MA, Lindgren V, Golino A, Jackson R, Mangione L, Swengros D, Anderson JG. The Effect of Healing Touch on Critical Care Patients' Vital Signs: A Pilot Study. Holist Nurs Pract. 2020 Jul/Aug;34(4):244-251. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000394. PMID: 32404727. | |
| The Efficacy of Healing Touch in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Recovery: A Randomized Clinical TrialHT reduced anxiety and shortened outpatient length of stay after CABG vs. controls. | Cardiovascular & Critical Care | 2008 | Randomized clinical trial | Coronary artery bypass surgery patients | Healing Touch | MacIntyre B, Hamilton J, Fricke T, Ma W, Mehle S, Michel M. The efficacy of healing touch in coronary artery bypass surgery recovery: a randomized clinical trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Jul-Aug;14(4):24-32. PMID: 18616066. | |
| Slowing Progression of Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease with Alternative Therapies: A Feasibility StudyExplored feasibility of alternative therapies (incl. HT) to slow early AD progression. | Cognitive Health & Dementia | 2013 | Feasibility study | People with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease | healing touch (HT) and body talk cortices (BTC) | Lu DF, Hart LK, Lutgendorf SK, Oh H, Schilling M. Slowing progression of early stages of AD with alternative therapies: a feasibility study. Geriatr Nurs. 2013 Nov-Dec;34(6):457-64. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.07.003. Epub 2013 Aug 22. PMID: 23972540. | |
| Pilot Study to Test the Effectiveness of Healing Touch on Agitation in People with DementiaHT decreased agitation in dementia patients in a pilot sample. | Cognitive Health & Dementia | 2006 | Pilot study | People with dementia | Healing Touch | Wang KL, Hermann C. Pilot study to test the effectiveness of Healing Touch on agitation in people with dementia. Geriatr Nurs. 2006 Jan-Feb;27(1):34-40. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2005.09.014. PMID: 16483898. | |
| The Clinical Effectiveness of Healing TouchClinical review describing effectiveness signals across settings. | General Population / Overview | 2002 | Healing Touch | Wilkinson DS, Knox PL, Chatman JE, Johnson TL, Barbour N, Myles Y, Reel A. The clinical effectiveness of healing touch. J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Feb;8(1):33-47. doi: 10.1089/107555302753507168. PMID: 11890432. | |||
| Examining the impact of a Healing Touch intervention to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in combat veteransHT intervention associated with decreased PTSD symptom severity. | Military, PTSD & Trauma Support | 2020 | Combat veterans | Healing Touch | Reeve K, Black PA, Huang J. Examining the impact of a Healing Touch intervention to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in combat veterans. Psychol Trauma. 2020 Nov;12(8):897-903. doi: 10.1037/tra0000591. Epub 2020 May 18. PMID: 33346680. | ||
| Healing Touch with Guided Imagery for PTSD in Returning Active Duty Military: A Randomized Controlled TrialRCT: HT + guided imagery significantly reduced PTSD symptoms vs. TAU. | Military, PTSD & Trauma Support | 2012 | Randomized controlled trial | Returning active-duty military | Healing Touch | Jain, Shamini & McMahon, George & Hasen, Patricia & Kozub, Madelyn & Porter, Valencia & King, Rauni & Guarneri, Erminia. (2012). Healing Touch With Guided Imagery for PTSD in Returning Active Duty Military: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Military medicine. 177. 1015-21. 10.7205/MILMED-D-11-00290. | |
| Pilot Study: Improving Patient Outcomes with Healing TouchHT protocol in dialysis patients associated with improved outcomes. | Nephropathy / Renal | 2017 | Pilot study | Patients | Healing Touch | Hendricks K, Wallace KF. Pilot Study: Improving Patient Outcomes with Healing Touch. Adv Perit Dial. 2017 Jan;33(2017):65-67. PMID: 29668435. | |
| Healing Touch: A Strategy for Acute Care Nurses’ Stress ReductionStructured HT program reduced stress among acute care nurses. | Nursing, Education & Professional Practice | 2023 | Acute care nurses | Healing Touch | Rosamond RL, Giarratano G, Orlando S, Sumner J, Devier D, McDaniel LS, Wardell DW. Healing Touch: A Strategy for Acute Care Nurses' Stress Reduction. J Holist Nurs. 2023 Dec;41(4):347-359. doi: 10.1177/08980101221142193. Epub 2023 Jan 30. Erratum in: J Holist Nurs. 2024 Sep;42(3):NP1. doi: 10.1177/08980101241245019. PMID: 36714962. | ||
| Nursing intervention using healing touch in total knee replacement: A randomized controlled study protocol | Nursing, Education & Professional Practice | 2021 | Study protocol | Total knee replacement patients | Healing Touch | Liu P, Yao J, Qiu C. Nursing intervention using healing touch in total knee replacement: A randomized controlled study protocol. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 22;100(3):e23735. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023735. PMID: 33545940; PMCID: PMC7837904. | |
| Improving the Well-Being of Nursing Leaders Through Healing Touch Training | Nursing, Education & Professional Practice | 2010 | Nursing leaders | Healing Touch | Tang R, Tegeler C, Larrimore D, Cowgill S, Kemper KJ. Improving the well-being of nursing leaders through healing touch training. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Aug;16(8):837-41. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0558. PMID: 20624103. | ||
| Effect of Healing Touch on Stress Perception and Biological CorrelatesHT reduced perceived stress and shifted biological stress markers. | Nursing, Education & Professional Practice | 2008 | Healing Touch | Maville JA, Bowen JE, Benham G. Effect of Healing Touch on stress perception and biological correlates. Holist Nurs Pract. 2008 Mar-Apr;22(2):103-10. doi: 10.1097/01.HNP.0000312659.21513.f9. PMID: 18317289. | |||
| Metabolic Effects of Healing Touch During Cervical Cancer Treatment: An Exploratory AnalysisHealing Touch patients showed suggestive metabolic differences associated with greater metabolic flexibility and resilience compared with usual care. The study also builds on earlier findings that Healing Touch preserved natural killer cell cytotoxicity and reduced depressive symptoms during chemoradiation treatment. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2025 | Exploratory analysis | Cervical cancer patients | Healing Touch | 1. van Wietmarschen HA, Area-Gomez E, Picard M, Goodheart MJ, Sood AK, Lutgendorf SK. Metabolic Effects of Healing Touch During Cervical Cancer Treatment: An Exploratory Analysis. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2025;24. doi:10.1177/15347354251367793 | |
| Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and MassageSingle-session HT and massage produced clinically significant pain reduction in 68% of 291 outpatients. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2018 | Cancer patients | Healing Touch and Oncology Massage | Gentile D, Boselli D, O'Neill G, Yaguda S, Bailey-Dorton C, Eaton TA. Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage. J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Sep/Oct;24(9-10):968-973. doi: 10.1089/acm.2018.0192. PMID: 30247960. | ||
| A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of the Impact of Healing Touch on Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation TherapyHT reduced cancer-related fatigue vs. placebo in radiation therapy. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2014 | Randomized placebo-controlled pilot study | Breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy | Healing Touch | 1. FitzHenry F, Wells N, Slater V, Dietrich MS, Wisawatapnimit P, Chakravarthy AB. A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of the Impact of Healing Touch on Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2014;13(2):105-113. doi:10.1177/1534735413503545 | |
| The Impact of Healing Touch on Pediatric Oncology PatientsHT improved pain, stress, and fatigue markers in pediatric oncology. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2013 | Pediatric oncology patients | Healing Touch | Wong J, Ghiasuddin A, Kimata C, Patelesio B, Siu A. The impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology patients. Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Jan;12(1):25-30. doi: 10.1177/1534735412446864. Epub 2012 Jun 17. PMID: 22710258. | ||
| The Use of Healing Touch in Integrative OncologyOverview and clinical insights on incorporating HT in oncology settings. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2011 | Healing Touch | Hart LK, Freel MI, Haylock PJ, Lutgendorf SK. The use of healing touch in integrative oncology. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2011 Oct;15(5):519-25. doi: 10.1188/11.CJON.519-525. PMID: 21951738; PMCID: PMC3907587. | |||
| Preservation of Immune Function in Cervical Cancer Patients during Chemoradiation using a Novel Integrative ApproachIntegrative approach (including biofield care) preserved immune function in chemoradiation. Healing Touch helped preserve natural killer cell activity and reduce depressed mood during chemoradiation, though it did not significantly affect quality of life, fatigue, toxicities, or treatment delays. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2010 | Cervical cancer patients | Healing Touch | Lutgendorf SK, Mullen-Houser E, Russell D, Degeest K, Jacobson G, Hart L, Bender D, Anderson B, Buekers TE, Goodheart MJ, Antoni MH, Sood AK, Lubaroff DM. Preservation of immune function in cervical cancer patients during chemoradiation using a novel integrative approach. Brain Behav Immun. 2010 Nov;24(8):1231-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2010.06.014. Epub 2010 Jun 30. PMID: 20600809; PMCID: PMC3010350. | ||
| Impact of Healing Touch on Pediatric Oncology Outpatients: Pilot StudyPilot indicates decreased distress and symptom relief in pediatric oncology. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2009 | Pilot study | Pediatric oncology outpatients | Healing Touch | Kemper KJ, Fletcher NB, Hamilton CA, McLean TW. Impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology outpatients: pilot study. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2009 Winter;7(1):12-8. PMID: 19476730. | |
| Healing Touch as a Supportive Intervention for Adult Acute Leukemia Patients: A Pilot Investigation of Effects on Distress and SymptomsPilot suggests HT may reduce distress and symptom burden in acute leukemia. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2008 | Pilot study | Adult acute leukemia patients | Healing Touch | Danhauer SC, Tooze JA, Holder P, Miller C, Jesse MT. Healing touch as a supportive intervention for adult acute leukemia patients: a pilot investigation of effects on distress and symptoms. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008 Summer;6(3):89-97. PMID: 19087765; PMCID: PMC3891375. | |
| “Laying on of Hands” Improves Well-Being in Patients with Advanced CancerHands-on energy-based care improved well-being in advanced cancer. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2007 | Patients with advanced cancer | Relaxation and Healing Touch | Pohl G, Seemann H, Zojer N, Ochsner C, Luhan C, Schemper M, Ludwig H. "Laying on of hands" improves well-being in patients with advanced cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2007 Feb;15(2):143-51. doi: 10.1007/s00520-006-0147-1. Epub 2006 Oct 13. PMID: 17039380. | ||
| Healing Touch and Quality of Life in Women Receiving Radiation Treatment for Cancer: A Randomized Controlled TrialImproved quality of life during radiation therapy with Healing Touch support. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | Women receiving radiation treatment for cancer | Healing Touch | Cook CA, Guerrerio JF, Slater VE. Healing touch and quality of life in women receiving radiation treatment for cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 May-Jun;10(3):34-41. PMID: 15154151. | |
| Therapeutic Massage and Healing Touch Improve Symptoms in CancerCombined massage and HT improved cancer symptoms and well-being. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2003 | Cancer patients | Massage and HT | Post-White J, Kinney ME, Savik K, Gau JB, Wilcox C, Lerner I. Therapeutic massage and healing touch improve symptoms in cancer. Integr Cancer Ther. 2003 Dec;2(4):332-44. doi: 10.1177/1534735403259064. PMID: 14713325. | ||
| Therapeutic Effects of Massage Therapy and Healing Touch on Caregivers of Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell TransplantHT/massage reduced caregiver distress during intensive cancer care. | Oncology & Cancer Care | 2002 | Caregivers | Massage Therapy and Healing Touch | Stephanie J. Rexilius, Carla A. Mundt, Mary Erickson Megel, and Sangeeta Agrawal Therapeutic Effects of Massage Therapy and Healing Touch on Caregivers of Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant 2002 Oncology Nursing Forum Volume 29, number 3, pages E35 - E44 DOI: 10.1188/02.ONF.E35-E44 | ||
| Using Healing Touch in a Hospital Setting to Relieve Pain, Anxiety, and Assist with Sleep | Pain & Symptom Management | 2021 | Healing Touch | Falvey, G. (2021). Using Healing Touch in a Hospital Setting to Relieve Pain, Anxiety, and Assist with Sleep. Pain Management Nursing, 22(2), 240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2021.02.049 | |||
| A pilot study: the effect of healing touch on anxiety, stress, pain, pain medication usage, and physiological measures in hospitalized sickle cell disease adults experiencing a vaso-occlusive pain episodeHT during crisis associated with reduced pain and distress markers. | Pain & Symptom Management | 2013 | Pilot study | Hospitalized adults with sickle cell disease | Healing Touch | Thomas LS, Stephenson N, Swanson M, Jesse DE, Brown S. A pilot study: the effect of healing touch on anxiety, stress, pain, pain medication usage, and physiological measures in hospitalized sickle cell disease adults experiencing a vaso-occlusive pain episode. J Holist Nurs. 2013 Dec;31(4):234-47. doi: 10.1177/0898010113491631. Epub 2013 Jul 1. PMID: 23817144. | |
| Healing Touch for Older Adults with Persistent PainHT supported pain reduction and comfort in persistent pain. | Pain & Symptom Management | 2012 | Older adults with persistent pain | Healing Touch | Wardell DW, Decker SA, Engebretson JC. Healing touch for older adults with persistent pain. Holist Nurs Pract. 2012 Jul-Aug;26(4):194-202. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0b013e318258528d. PMID: 22694864. | ||
| Using a Healing Touch Intervention in Older Adults With Persistent Pain: A Feasibility StudyFeasible HT protocol with signal for pain reduction in older adults. | Pain & Symptom Management | 2012 | Feasibility study | Older adults with persistent pain | Healing Touch | Decker S, Wardell DW, Cron SG. Using a healing touch intervention in older adults with persistent pain: a feasibility study. J Holist Nurs. 2012 Sep;30(3):205-13. doi: 10.1177/0898010112440884. Epub 2012 Jun 19. PMID: 22713606. | |
| A Pilot Study of Healing Touch and Progressive Relaxation for Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Persons with Spinal Cord InjuryHT + relaxation reduced neuropathic pain in SCI. | Pain & Symptom Management | 2006 | Pilot study | Persons with spinal cord injury | Healing Touch and Progressive Relaxation | Wardell DW, Rintala DH, Duan Z, Tan G. A pilot study of healing touch and progressive relaxation for chronic neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury. J Holist Nurs. 2006 Dec;24(4):231-40; discussion 241-4. doi: 10.1177/0898010106289840. PMID: 17098874. | |
| Effect of Healing Touch on Children’s Pain and Comfort in the Postoperative PeriodSignals for improved comfort and pain outcomes in pediatric post‑op care. | Pediatrics & Family Care | 2009 | Children | Healing Touch | Zimmer, Michelle & Meier, Monica & Rolf, Wendy. (2009). Effect of Healing Touch on Children's Pain and Comfort in the Postoperative Period. Explore-the Journal of Science and Healing - EXPLORE. 5. 157-158. 10.1016/j.explore.2009.03.038. | ||
| Integrating Complementary Therapies into Community Mental Health Practice: An ExplorationExploratory integration of HT and other modalities into community mental health. | Psychological / Mental Health | 2005 | Community mental health practice | Swedish Massage, HT or Reiki, 5 elements of Acupuncture | Collinge W, Wentworth R, Sabo S. Integrating complementary therapies into community mental health practice: an exploration. J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Jun;11(3):569-74. doi: 10.1089/acm.2005.11.569. PMID: 15992246. | ||
| Biofield Therapies: Helpful or Full of Hype? A Best Evidence SynthesisBest‑evidence synthesis across biofield modalities; methodological considerations. | Reviews, Theory & Foundational Articles | 2010 | Best evidence synthesis | Reiki, therapeutic touch, and healing touch | Jain S, Mills PJ. Biofield therapies: helpful or full of hype? A best evidence synthesis. Int J Behav Med. 2010 Mar;17(1):1-16. doi: 10.1007/s12529-009-9062-4. Erratum in: Int J Behav Med. 2011 Mar;18(1):79-82. PMID: 19856109; PMCID: PMC2816237. | ||
| The Use of Biofield Therapies in Cancer CareOverview of biofield therapies in oncology, including Healing Touch. | Reviews, Theory & Foundational Articles | 2007 | Cancer patients | Healing Touch, Polarity Therapy, Qigong, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch | Pierce B. The use of biofield therapies in cancer care. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2007 Apr;11(2):253-8. doi: 10.1188/07.CJON.253-258. PMID: 17573275. | ||
| Review of Studies of Healing TouchNarrative review summarizing 30 HT research landscape and clinical applications. | Reviews, Theory & Foundational Articles | 2004 | Review | Healing Touch | Wardell DW, Weymouth KF. Review of studies of healing touch. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2004;36(2):147-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2004.04012.x. PMID: 15227762. | ||
| Comparison of a Healing Touch, Coaching, and a Combined Intervention on Comfort and Stress in Younger College StudentsHT and multimodal approaches improved comfort and reduced stress in students. | Stress, Anxiety & Emotional Well-Being | 2007 | Younger college students | Healing Touch, Coaching, and a Combined Intervention | Dowd T, Kolcaba K, Steiner R, Fashinpaur D. Comparison of a healing touch, coaching, and a combined intervention on comfort and stress in younger college students. Holist Nurs Pract. 2007 Jul-Aug;21(4):194-202. doi: 10.1097/01.HNP.0000280931.75883.ae. PMID: 17627198. | ||
| An Initial Study Using Healing Touch for Women Undergoing a Breast BiopsyInitial study suggests peri‑biopsy HT may reduce anxiety/pain. | Surgery, Orthopedics & Postoperative Recovery | 2016 | Initial study | Women undergoing breast biopsy | Healing Touch | Goldberg DR, Wardell DW, Kilgarriff N, Williams B, Eichler D, Thomlinson P. An Initial Study Using Healing Touch for Women Undergoing a Breast Biopsy. J Holist Nurs. 2016 Jun;34(2):123-34. doi: 10.1177/0898010115585414. Epub 2015 May 14. PMID: 25976090. | |
| Effects of Healing Touch on Postsurgical Adult OutpatientsHT for outpatient surgery associated with anxiety and pain improvements. | Surgery, Orthopedics & Postoperative Recovery | 2016 | Postsurgical adult outpatients | Healing Touch | Foley MK, Anderson J, Mallea L, Morrison K, Downey M. Effects of Healing Touch on Postsurgical Adult Outpatients. J Holist Nurs. 2016 Sep;34(3):271-9. doi: 10.1177/0898010115609486. Epub 2015 Oct 8. PMID: 26453532. | ||
| The Effects of Healing Touch on Pain, Nausea, and Anxiety Following Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot StudyImmediate post‑op reductions in pain, nausea, and anxiety following HT. | Surgery, Orthopedics & Postoperative Recovery | 2015 | Pilot study | Bariatric surgery patients | Healing Touch | Anderson JG, Suchicital L, Lang M, Kukic A, Mangione L, Swengros D, Fabian J, Friesen MA. The effects of healing touch on pain, nausea, and anxiety following bariatric surgery: a pilot study. Explore (NY). 2015 May-Jun;11(3):208-16. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2015.02.006. Epub 2015 Feb 17. PMID: 25797686. | |
| The Effect of Healing Touch on the Pain and Mobility of Persons with Osteoarthritis: A Feasibility StudyFeasibility study found improved pain and mobility in osteoarthritis. | Surgery, Orthopedics & Postoperative Recovery | 2013 | Feasibility study | Persons with osteoarthritis | Healing Touch | Lu DF, Hart LK, Lutgendorf SK, Perkhounkova Y. The effect of healing touch on the pain and mobility of persons with osteoarthritis: a feasibility study. Geriatr Nurs. 2013 Jul-Aug;34(4):314-22. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.05.003. Epub 2013 Jul 5. PMID: 23835011. | |
| Nursing Intervention Using Healing Touch in Bilateral Total Knee ArthroplastyIntegrating HT within nursing care pathways for TKA recovery. | Surgery, Orthopedics & Postoperative Recovery | 2012 | Bilateral total knee arthroplasty patients | Healing Touch | Hardwick ME, Pulido PA, Adelson WS. Nursing intervention using healing touch in bilateral total knee arthroplasty. Orthop Nurs. 2012 Jan-Feb;31(1):5-11. doi: 10.1097/NOR.0b013e31824195fb. PMID: 22278643. |
How the Library Works
How We Organize the Research
Each study is assigned a primary category to make the library easier to browse. Because many studies relate to more than one topic, keyword search is often the best way to find all relevant entries.
For example, a postoperative study may be categorized under surgery, while also including outcomes such as pain, anxiety, nausea, or comfort.
Primary Category
The main topic area where the study fits best, such as oncology, pain, PTSD, nursing practice, surgery, dementia, or cardiovascular care.
Searchable Terms
Studies can also be found by searching conditions, populations, outcomes, authors, or clinical settings, even when those words are not the primary category.
Modality Label
Entries identify whether the study involved Healing Touch alone or Healing Touch combined with another intervention, such as guided imagery, relaxation, music, or massage.
Understanding the Research
What the Study Types Mean
Healing Touch research includes many kinds of publications. These simple definitions can help readers understand what each study type means as they explore the library.
Randomized Controlled Trial
A study design in which participants are assigned to different groups so researchers can compare outcomes between an intervention group and a comparison or control group.
Pilot Study
A smaller early-stage study used to explore whether an intervention, research question, or study method is practical and worth studying further.
Feasibility Study
A study designed to test whether a research approach can be carried out successfully, including recruitment, delivery of the intervention, and data collection.
Review Article
A publication that summarizes, compares, or evaluates existing studies on a topic. Reviews help readers understand patterns in the research.
Case Report
A detailed report about one person, situation, or clinical example. Case reports can offer useful observations, but they do not establish broad conclusions.
Retrospective Study
A study that looks back at existing records or past outcomes to identify patterns, associations, or observed changes over time.
Qualitative Study
A study that explores experiences, perceptions, themes, or meaning, often through interviews, written responses, or observation.
Research Note
Healing Touch research includes a range of study designs, populations, settings, and outcomes. The presence of a study in this library does not mean that all findings are conclusive or that every study reached the same type of outcome. This resource is intended to help readers explore the published literature and better understand the breadth of Healing Touch research.
Help Us Build the Library
Know of a Healing Touch Study We Should Review?
If you know of a published Healing Touch study, article, dissertation, book chapter, or research resource that should be considered for this library, please send it to us for review. All submissions are checked before being added to the public research library.
Suggest a Study
Please include the title, author, journal, year, DOI, PMID, or link when available.
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Learn More About Healing Touch
Healing Touch research is one part of a larger body of education, practice, and professional development. Learn more about Healing Touch Program and the training path for students, practitioners, and instructors.
