Effects of therapeutic touch on the vital signs of patients before coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Currently healthy heart word considered to be the objective of community health applications in many countries of the world because cardiovascular diseases are the most important factor in mortality of humans, worldwide. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is one of the most common surgery procedures for these patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of therapeutic touch on medical vital signs of patients before coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

METHODS: The present study is a clinical trial with 44 samples that were selected by easy sampling method and based on two separate lists of random numbers for both men and women, they were divided into two groups. In the therapeutic touch group, intervention therapy was applied on patents for 20 minutes. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: Test results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean pulse rate before and after intervention in both groups (p < 0.001). Results also showed that there was a significant difference between the average number of breathing before and after intervention in both groups (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Considering the effects of therapeutic touch therapy as a safe and effective intervention on the patients which were revealed in this study, this technique can be used as a simple, cheap and applicable technique in all health care centers to help these patients.

KEY WORDS: Blood pressure, coronary artery bypass, pulse, therapeutic touch.