Abstract
This study investigated whether nursing intervention by talking, or talking and touching, as a method to reduce the physical and mental discomfort of patients undergoing investigations creating physical discomfort, resulted in differences in their experience and feelings.
The study divided 43 patients undergoing gastroscopy into 2 groups, one group of 21 patients receiving talk intervention only, and one group of 22 patients receiving talking and touch intervention, with a survey conducted of the patient's emotional state before and during the investigation, and free reporting of the patient's thoughts.
No difference was found in the emotional state of the talk intervention group before and during investigation, while for the talking and touch group, there was amelioration in their feelings of restlessness (tension and excitement) due to tension and concern, and feeling down (depressed feeling), and an increase in feelings of relaxation (relief) (all p<.05). In response to nurse intervention, both groups reported feelings of “strong encouragement to help me get through the discomfort”, “relief of physical tension”, “peace of mind and relief of mental tension”, and “kindness directed at me”, but the talking and touching group reported feeling “warmth and peace, like a family member was with me”, and “happiness at the nurse's kindness”. The above results show that talking and touching intervention ameliorates patient discomfort more during investigation.
