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A critical evaluation of the theory and practice of therapeutic touch
Author(s) -
O'Mathúna Dónal P.,
Pryjmachuk Steven,
Spencer Wayne,
Stanwick Michael,
Matthiesen Stephen
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
nursing philosophy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.367
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1466-769X
pISSN - 1466-7681
DOI - 10.1046/j.1466-769x.2002.00089.x
Subject(s) - epistemology , intervention (counseling) , unitary state , psychology , clinical practice , psychotherapist , therapeutic touch , engineering ethics , critical theory , sociology , medicine , nursing , alternative medicine , philosophy , political science , law , pathology , engineering
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.