Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Korea University
Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the characteristic of physical touch in caring situation. The subjects of this study were adults in caring situation, therefore they were composed of 7 patients, 6 nurses, 3 doctors, 3 pharmacologists, 3 men in paramedicine area, 3 nursing educators and 13 normal general adults. The datas were gathered through nonstructured questionaire from June, 20th to September, 15th in 1995. The datas were subjects' descriptions about the intention, perception, and form of physical touch in caring situation and analysed by content analysis. The results as follow : The datas were divided into four areas. There were the situation being necessiated the physical touch, meaning of physical touch, form of physical touch and perception about physical touch in caring situation. The situation being necessiated physical touch were the situation that required physical treatment, to deliver the active expression of concern about the patients, to determine the treatment due to the identification of physical condition of patients and to induce the psychological eqilibrium into patient's mind. The meanings of physical touch in caring situation were - Good meanings that intention is to encourage, to be have hope about health and to deliver the affection willing to help patient. - therapeutic methods that were to facillitate the circulation of blood, to reduce the pain perception and to facillitate the circulation of qi. - interpersonal affectionate relation that the intentions were to deliver the understanding of patient's pain, were to delivery the meaning to the patient not be alone. The forms of physical touch in caring situation were none invasive forms just like laying hands on hand, head, shoulder, gentle knocking on the shoulder or back, massage of legs and back and finger pressure on acupuncture points. The perception of physical touch in caring situation divided into two parts. In family, the perceptions of physical touch in caring situation were to promote health status because physical touch induce the psychological peace, and to evoke the importance of relationship among family members. In relation with care giver, perception of physical touch in caring situation were inevitable process in treatment, and to deliver the trust and concern about patients.
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