Background: Intentional Touch (InTouch) refers to a soft physical touch with the aim to ease complaints and enhance well-being. Central questions were perception of InTouch by nurses and patients and possible effects on pain perception. Patients and Methods: InTouch was developed by stakeholder involvement. Nurses working in geriatric care received expert training in InTouch. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation (including video recording) were conducted with nurses applying and patients with chronic pain receiving InTouch after the beginning of the intervention and after 4 weeks. Interviews were analyzed based on Qualitative Content Analysis and video recordings based on Qualitative Visual Analysis. Results: Six elderly patients with chronic pain and 6 nurses were included. Nurses and patients equally described relaxation, well-being, and a sensation of warmth during the intervention. Patients reported no pain during the intervention. After the intervention, 3 patients each experienced pain relief or no change. Patients described better drive and positive feelings, and nurses felt empowered in their nursing work. Empathetic attention had special importance for improving the therapeutic relationship. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that InTouch promoted relaxation, well-being, and pain relief for elderly people suffering from chronic pain and may contribute positively to the therapeutic relationship.

Keywords:
Qualitative research, Touch, Chronic pain, Intention, Geriatric nursing, Professional-patient relation, Relaxation, Well-being

Hintergrund: Intentionale Berührung ist eine leichte körperliche Berührung mit dem Ziel Beschwerden zu redu-zieren und Wohlbefinden zu verbessern. Primäre -Fragestellungen waren das subjektive Erleben von Intentionaler Berührung und mögliche Auswirkungen auf die Schmerzwahrnehmung. Patienten und Methodik: Die -Intervention Intentionale Berührung wurde durch -Stakeholder-Involvement entwickelt. Danach wurden Pflege-kräfte darin durch Experten geschult. Es wurden semistrukturierte Interviews und teilnehmende Beobachtungen (mit Videoaufnahmen) mit Pflegekräften, die Intentionale Berührung anwandten, und mit chronischen Schmerzpatienten, die Intentionale Berührung empfingen, zu Beginn der Intervention und nach 4 Wochen durchgeführt. Die Interviews wurden auf der Grundlage qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse und die Videoaufnahmen in Anlehnung an qualitative Bild- und Videointerpretation ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Es wurden 6 Pflegekräfte und 6 chronische Schmerzpatienten eines Altenpflegeheims rekrutiert. Pflegekräfte und Patienten beschrieben gleichermaßen Entspannung, Wohlsein und Wärme während der Behandlung. Die Patienten verspürten Schmerzfreiheit während der Behandlungen; darüber hinaus erlebten jeweils 3 Patienten Schmerzlinderung oder keine Veränderung. Die Patienten beschrieben weiterhin verbesserten Antrieb und positive Gefühle und die Pflegekräfte Empowerment in Bezug auf ihre pflegerische Arbeit. Besondere Bedeutung hatte die empathische Zuwendung in der Beziehung zwischen Pflegekraft und Patient. Fazit: Die Ergebnisse der Studie weisen darauf hin, dass Intentionale Berührung Entspannung, Wohlsein und Schmerz-linderung bei chronischen Schmerzpatienten fördern und die therapeutische Beziehung verbessern könnte.

Schlüsselwörter Qualitative Studie, Berührung, Chronische Schmerzen, Intention, Altenpflege, Therapeutische Beziehung, Entspannung, Wohlbefinden

Keywords:
Qualitative research, Touch, Chronic pain, Intention, Geriatric nursing, Professional-patient relation, Relaxation, Well-being
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The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel
2019
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