A critical evaluation of the theory and practice of therapeutic touch

In this paper, the theory and practice of therapeutic touch (TT) is scrutinized from a number of perspectives. Firstly, the alleged close relationship between TT and Martha Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings is evaluated. Secondly, the employment of the language of modern physics in Rogers’ the...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: O'Mathúna, Dónal P. (Author) ; Pryjmachuk, Steven (Author) ; Spencer, Wayne (Author) ; Stanwick, Michael (Author) ; Matthiesen, Stephen (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2002
In: Nursing philosophy
Year: 2002, Volume: 3, Issue: 2, Pages: 163-176
Further subjects:B Complementary Therapies
B evidence-based practice
B therapeutic touch
B Science of Unitary Human Beings
B ethical issues in nursing
B quantum physics
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Summary:In this paper, the theory and practice of therapeutic touch (TT) is scrutinized from a number of perspectives. Firstly, the alleged close relationship between TT and Martha Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings is evaluated. Secondly, the employment of the language of modern physics in Rogers’ theory and TT is critically examined. The authors then review the research literature on TT's efficacy, completing their critique by discussing the ethical issues involved in the practice of TT. As each of the perspectives considered reveals some concerns, the paper concludes that TT is a questionable intervention, underpinned by a very weak theoretical, clinical and research base.
ISSN:1466-769X
Contains:Enthalten in: Nursing philosophy
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1046/j.1466-769X.2002.00089.x