Anna-Lena Berglund

Enjoying tactile touch and gaining hope when being cared for in intensive care—-A phenomenological hermeneutical study

Touch has been a part of the healing process in many civilisations and cultures throughout the centuries. Nurses frequently use touch to provide comfort and reach their patients. The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of receiving tactile touch when being cared for in an intensive care unit. Tactile touch is a complementary method including the use of effleurage, which means soft stroking movements along the body. The context used to illuminate the meaning of receiving tactile touch was two general intensive care units (ICUs). Six patients, who have been cared for in the two ICUs, participated in the study. A phenomenological-hermeneutical method based on the philosophy of Ricoeur and developed for nursing research by Lindseth and Norberg [Lindseth A, Norberg A. A phenomenological hermeneutical method for researching lived experience. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2004;18:145-53] was chosen for the analysis. Data consisted of narratives, which were analysed in three recurring phases: naïve understanding, structural analyses and comprehensive understanding. Two main themes were found: being connected to oneself and being unable to gain and maintain pleasure. The comprehensive understanding of receiving tactile touch during intensive care seems to be an expression of enjoying tactile touch and gaining hope for the future. This study reveals that it is possible to experience moments of pleasure in the midst of being a severely ill patient at an ICU and, through this experience also gain hope.

The outcome of tactile touch on oxytocin in intensive care patients: a randomised controlled trial

AIM To explore the effects of five-day tactile touch intervention on oxytocin in intensive care patients. The hypotheses were that tactile touch increases the levels of oxytocin after intervention and over a six-day period. BACKGROUND Research on both humans and animals shows a correlation between touch and increased levels of oxytocin which inspired us to measure the levels of oxytocin in arterial blood to obtain information about the physiological effect of tactile touch. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial. METHOD Forty-four patients from two general intensive care units, were randomly assigned to either tactile touch (n = 21) or standard treatment--an hour of rest (n = 23). Arterial blood was drawn for measurement of oxytocin, before and after both treatments. RESULTS No significant mean changes in oxytocin levels were found from day 1 to day 6 in the intervention group (mean -3.0 pM, SD 16.8). In the control group, there was a significant (p = 0.01) decrease in oxytocin levels from day 1 to day 6, mean 26.4 pM (SD 74.1). There were no significant differences in changes between day 1 and day 6 when comparing the intervention group and control group, mean 23.4 pM (95% CI -20.2-67.0). CONCLUSION Our hypothesis that tactile touch increases the levels of oxytocin in patients at intensive care units was not confirmed. An interesting observation was the decrease levels of oxytocin over the six-day period in the control group, which was not observed in the intervention group. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Tactile touch seemed to reduce the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Further and larger studies are needed in intensive care units to confirm/evaluate tactile touch as a complementary caring act for critically ill patients.

Quality of Life: Young People's Interpretation of the Concept

The purpose of this study was to examine how young individuals interpret the quality of life concept and to describe some aspects of health promotion. The present study was conducted in September, 2001. One hundred and twenty-six young individuals (119 females and 7 males) answered the question «What does Quality of Life mean to you?» after visiting an adolescent health centre for young people in Sweden. The data collection consisted of written accounts (from 126 informants), which were transcribed and formed as a whole. The content analysis method was used when analysing the qualitative data. Farquhars taxonomy was used as a framework for organizing the different categories. Ten categories were presented under four main types: global definitions- well-being and happiness; focused definitions- love and development; combination definitions- respect and friendship and component definitions- education, occupation, economy and sense of security. The findings illustrate the most important perceptions of young people regarding the quality of life concept (see fig 1). Nurses can help these young individuals by providing support and guidance when they choose to discuss their problems, and by doing so, can help to prevent future health problems.