The Effect of Therapeutic Touch on the Loneliness and Hopelessness Levels of Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to examine the effect of therapeutic touch on loneliness and hopelessness levels in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with patients undergoing hemodialysis at the hemodialysis unit of a hospital in Turkiye. The sample consisted of 40 patients (20 control, 20 intervention) who voluntarily participated in the study. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and BECK Hopelessness Scale. Therapeutic Touch was given to the patients in the intervention group for 15 minutes every other day for three days, whereas no interventions other than routine care were applied to patients in the control group. Results: After the therapeutic touch, it was found that the mean scores received from UCLA and BECK scales were statistically lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our study found that the Therapeutic Touch intervention decreased the loneliness and hopelessness levels of the patients.