INTRODUCTION: Chronic stress adversely affects performance. We evaluated the effect of Healing Touch training on subjective and objective measures of stress in nursing leaders in an academic health center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this quasi-experimental single group pretest-post-test study, we recruited nursing leaders at an academic health center and provided 17.5 hours of Healing Touch training over 2 days. We measured subjective measures of stress using visual analog scales as well as heart rate variability 1-2 weeks before and 4 weeks after the training. RESULTS:Target enrollment was exceeded within 2 weeks; all participants were women and the mean age was 47 years. Of the 26 enrollees, 24 completed training, and 20 (77%) completed all pre- and post-training measures. There was significant improvement in self-reported stress, depression, anxiety, relaxation, well-being, and sleep. Heart rate variability changes were also significant for total power, high- and low-frequency power, and coherence, suggesting improved autonomic function consistent with greater well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Training nurse leaders in an academic health center in Healing Touch is associated with significant improvements in subjective and objective measures of stress. Additional studies are needed to compare the impact of this training versus stress management training on the nurses themselves and on the quality of care.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION: Chronic stress adversely affects performance. We evaluated the effect of Healing Touch training on subjective and objective measures of stress in nursing leaders in an academic health center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this quasi-experimental single group pretest-post-test study, we recruited nursing leaders at an academic health center and provided 17.5 hours of Healing Touch training over 2 days. We measured subjective measures of stress using visual analog scales as well as heart rate variability 1-2 weeks before and 4 weeks after the training. RESULTS: Target enrollment was exceeded within 2 weeks; all participants were women and the mean age was 47 years. Of the 26 enrollees, 24 completed training, and 20 (77%) completed all pre- and post-training measures. There was significant improvement in self-reported stress, depression, anxiety, relaxation, well-being, and sleep. Heart rate variability changes were also significant for total power, high- and low-frequency power, and coherence, suggesting improved autonomic function consistent with greater well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Training nurse leaders in an academic health center in Healing Touch is associated with significant improvements in subjective and objective measures of stress. Additional studies are needed to compare the impact of this training versus stress management training on the nurses themselves and on the quality of care.
Authors: Susan K Lutgendorf; Elizabeth Mullen-Houser; Daniel Russell; Koen Degeest; Geraldine Jacobson; Laura Hart; David Bender; Barrie Anderson; Thomas E Buekers; Michael J Goodheart; Michael H Antoni; Anil K Sood; David M Lubaroff Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2010-06-30 Impact factor: 7.217
Authors: Kathi Kemper; Sally Bulla; Deborah Krueger; Mary Jane Ott; Jane A McCool; Paula Gardiner Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2011-04-11 Impact factor: 3.659
Authors: Shamini Jain; Richard Hammerschlag; Paul Mills; Lorenzo Cohen; Richard Krieger; Cassandra Vieten; Susan Lutgendorf Journal: Glob Adv Health Med Date: 2015-11-01