Práticas integrativas e complementares na atenção primária à saúde / Prácticas integradoras y complementarias en la atención primaria de salud / Integrative and complementary practices in primary health care

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar as práticas integrativas e complementares realizadas pelos profissionais da saúde nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Método: trata-se de um estudo realizado a partir de uma pesquisa qualitativa em cinco Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Pelotas, município do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre janeiro e março de 2020. A produção de informações ocorreu a partir de entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado. A análise foi realizada por meio da proposta de maneira operativa, em três etapas: pré-análise; classificação dos dados; reflexão em busca da interpretação e compreensão de tudo o que foi exposto. Resultados: as 16 participantes eram todas mulheres, com idade entre 33 e 59 anos, sendo nove enfermeiras. As práticas aplicadas pelas profissionais para o cuidado aos usuários eram: Auriculoterapia, Arteterapia, Reiki e Plantas Medicinais. O registro é realizado conforme a organização de cada Unidade Básica de Saúde, podendo ocorrer no Prontuário Eletrônico do Cidadão, no prontuário físico, em um caderno utilizado para o registro e/ou em ficha específica. Considerações finais: ressalta-se a importância das práticas integrativas e complementares na atenção primária, devido ao vínculo entre profissionais e usuários, ampliando o cuidado integral.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar las prácticas integradoras y complementarias realizadas por los profesionales de la salud en las Unidades Básicas de Salud. Método: se trata de un estudio realizado a partir de una investigación cualitativa en cinco Unidades Básicas de Salud de Pelotas, municipio de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre enero y marzo de 2020. La producción de informaciones se produjo a partir de entrevistas con guion semiestructurado. El análisis fue realizado por medio de la propuesta de manera operativa, en tres etapas: preanálisis; clasificación de los datos; reflexión en busca de la interpretación y comprensión de todo lo que fue expuesto. Resultados: las 16 participantes eran todas mujeres, con edad entre 33 y 59 años, siendo nueve enfermeras. Las prácticas aplicadas por las profesionales para el cuidado a los usuarios eran: Auriculoterapia, Arteterapia, Reiki y Plantas Medicinales. El registro es realizado conforme la organización de cada Unidad Básica de Salud, pudiendo ocurrir en el Registro Médico Electrónico del Ciudadano, en el Registro Médico físico, en un cuaderno utilizado para el registro y/o en ficha específica. Consideraciones finales: se resalta la importancia de las prácticas integradoras y complementarias en la atención primaria, debido al vínculo entre profesionales y usuarios, ampliando el cuidado integral.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the integrative and complementary practices held by health professionals in Primary Health Care Units. Method: this is a study conducted from qualitative research in five Primary Health Care Units of Pelotas, municipality of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between January and March 2020. The production of information occurred from interviews with a semi-structured script. The analysis was performed by means of the proposal in an operative way, in three stages: pre-analysis; data classification; reflection in search of interpretation and understanding of everything that was exposed. Results: the 16 participants were all women, aged between 33 and 59 years, nine of whom were nurses. The practices applied by professionals for the care of users were: Auriculotherapy, Art Therapy, Reiki and Medicinal Plants. The record is performed according to the organization of each Primary Health Care Units, and may occur in the Citizen's Electronic Medical Record, in the physical record, in a notebook used for registration and/or in a specific form. Final considerations: it is underlined the importance of integrative and complementary practices in primary care, due to the bond between professionals and users, expanding comprehensive care.

No efficacy of biofield therapy in the treatment of warts of the hands and feet in adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Although biofield therapy is unexplained by scientific evidence, it has been practised for many years in numerous cultures for a variety of medical conditions. This study aimed to determine whether one session of biofield therapy with an experienced practitioner could treat warts on the hands and feet in adults. A single-blind, assessor-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial was performed between April 2016 and November 2018. The enrolled participants had at least one wart on the hand or foot that had been present for at least 90 days and they were not using any other therapy for the wart. The primary outcome of this trial was the disappearance of the original wart 3 weeks after session of proximal nontouch biofield therapy vs. a sham session. No original wart had disappeared 3 weeks after intervention (0/64), which made the study impossible to conclude on the primary objective. There were no significant differences between the two groups concerning wart disappearance 3 weeks (P = 0.49) or 6 weeks (P = 0.40) after the intervention. Reduction in wart size at Week 3 tended towards a better result for biofield therapy but this was not significant (P = 0.27). No related adverse effects were observed. The major limitation of this trial was the short follow-up time for measurement of clinical outcome, which did not allow verification of the hypothesis. However, this study shows that 3 weeks after a session of proximal nontouch biofield therapy is an insufficient length of time to assess biofield therapy in comparison with a sham session. Based on this study, biofield therapy cannot be recommended to treat warts within 3 weeks.

The Effect of Healing Touch on Critical Care Patients' Vital Signs: A Pilot Study.

To determine the impact of Healing Touch on vital signs, adult intensive care unit patients were recruited from multiple hospital sites. Both pain and agitation improved and there was a significant change in hemodynamics that reflected a calming effect. Healing Touch may be considered a respected addition to symptom management.

Implementation of a Volunteer Reiki Program at an Academic Medical Center in the Midwest.

Background: Reiki is a universal life-force energy that promotes healing and relaxation. Reiki requires no equipment or technology, is noninvasive, does not interfere with conventional treatments, is appropriate for all ages, and has no known medical contraindications. There is an emerging preference for nonopioid therapies for symptom management. Within an integrative person-centered holistic care model, nursing care plans include a patient's whole narrative with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements. The Evidence-Based Practice PICOT Question: Will hospitalized patients of any age (population) receiving one 20-minute session of Reiki (intervention) compared with usual care (comparison) report a change from prerating symptom score (outcome) at the completion of the 20-minute session (time frame)? Method: A total of 1,278 patients received a 20-minute Reiki session with volunteer, certified Reiki practitioners from September 2017 through October 2019. Results: The average symptom prescore was 5.52 and postscore was 2.25, thus showing an average change of -3.17. Conclusions: The authors presented the results that were consistent with research findings from the literature review suggesting that Reiki can decrease pain, general discomfort, anxiety, insomnia, and nausea.

Systematic Review of the Effects of Skin-to-Skin Care on Short-Term Physiologic Stress Outcomes in Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are exposed to many stressors. There is growing evidence that chronic stress early in life has long-term neurodevelopmental implications. Skin-to-skin care (SSC) is an intervention used to reduce stress in the NICU. CLINICAL QUESTION: In premature infants in the NICU, what is the available evidence that SSC improves short-term physiologic stress outcomes compared with incubator care? SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed and CINAHL were searched for terms related to SSC, stress, physiology, and premature infants. Of 1280 unique articles, 19 were identified that reported on research studies comparing SSC with incubator care in the NICU and reported stress-related physiologic outcome measures. RESULTS: Although there have been some mixed findings, the research supports that SSC improves short-term cardiorespiratory stress outcomes compared with incubator care. The evidence is clearer for studies reporting stress hormone outcomes, with strong evidence that SSC reduces cortisol and increases oxytocin levels in preterm infants. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: SSC is safe and has stress-reducing benefits. SSC should be considered an essential component to providing optimal care in the NICU. More research is needed to determine the timing of initiation, duration, and frequency of SSC to optimize the stress-reducing benefits. Future research should include the most fragile infants, who are most likely to benefit from SSC, utilize power analyses to ensure adequate sample sizes, and use sophisticated data collection and analysis techniques to more accurately evaluate the effect of SSC on infants in the NICU.

Mapa de Evidência: aplicação clínica da Shantala / Mapa de evidencia: aplicación clínica de Shantala / Evidence Map: clinical application of Shantala

O Mapa apresenta as evidências sobre efetividade clínica da Shantala sistematizada a partir de 38 estudos de revisões. A maioria das evidências concentra-se em massagem terapia aplicada em recém-nascidos internados por profissionais de saúde para os seguintes desfechos: redução de dor, melhora do crescimento, desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor, tempo de internação hospitalar, imunidade, estresse e qualidade do sono.

El mapa presenta evidencia sobre la efectividad clínica de Shantala sistematizada a partir de 38 estudios de revisión. La mayor parte de la evidencia se concentra en la terapia de masaje aplicada a los recién nacidos hospitalizados por profesionales de la salud para los siguientes resultados: reducción del dolor, mejora en el crecimiento, desarrollo neuropsicomotor, duración de la estadía en el hospital, inmunidad, estrés y calidad del sueño.

The Map presents evidence on the clinical effectiveness of Shantala systematized from 38 review studies. Most of the evidence is concentrated on massage therapy applied to newborns hospitalized by health professionals for the following outcomes: pain reduction, improvement in growth, neuropsychomotor development, length of hospital stay, immunity, stress and quality of sleep.

A Large-Scale Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for Physical and Psychological Health.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to measure the effect of a single session of Reiki on physical and psychological health in a large nonclinical sample. Design: The study design was a single arm effectiveness trial with measures at pre-and postintervention. Settings: The study took place at private Reiki practices across the United States. Subjects: Reiki practitioners were recruited from an online mailing list to participate in the study with their Reiki clients. A total of 99 Reiki practitioners met the inclusion criteria and participated in the study. Reiki practitioners were instructed to give a flyer to each of their Reiki clients that contained information about the study and invited the client to complete a survey before and after their Reiki session. Interventions: Trained and certified Reiki Masters conducted the Reiki sessions in person, with each session lasting between 45 and 90 min. Outcome measures: The well-validated 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule was used to assess affect, and brief, single-item self-report measures were used to assess a wide range of physical and psychological variables immediately before (pre) and after (post) the Reiki session. Results: A total of N = 1411 Reiki sessions were conducted and included in the analysis. Statistically significant improvements were observed for all outcome measures, including positive affect, negative affect, pain, drowsiness, tiredness, nausea, appetite, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being (all p-values <0.001). Conclusions: The results from this large-scale multisite effectiveness trial suggest that a single session of Reiki improves multiple variables related to physical and psychological health.

Feasibility of Training and Delivering Compassionate Touch in Long-Term Care.

OBJECTIVES: Limited evidence supports the use of therapeutic touch for people with dementia (PWD). Interventions incorporating a person-centered approach to touch delivered by staff may benefit PWD and staff in long-term care settings. The Compassionate Touch® (CT) program provides skilled human touch and a compassionate presence following a person-centered approach and touch protocol. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of training and delivering CT. METHODS: An online survey was sent via email to 112 staff who attended the CT coach training. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze closed-and open-ended questions of the survey. RESULTS: Twenty-four staff members completed the survey and reported positive perspectives about the training, use of the program, and benefits for PWD and themselves. Five themes emerged, including (1) benefits for residents, (2) challenges in using CT, (3) when to use CT, (4) training staff, and (5) needed support. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings from the present research show potential benefits of using the CT program for residents, challenges participants faced in using the program and training other staff, and support needed to overcome these challenges. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Programs such as CT may benefit PWD and staff in residential care settings.

Association Between Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Initiation: The Breast Cancer Quality of Care (BQUAL) Study.

IMPORTANCE: Not all women initiate clinically indicated breast cancer adjuvant treatment. It is important for clinicians to identify women at risk for noninitiation. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is associated with decreased breast cancer chemotherapy initiation. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this multisite prospective cohort study (the Breast Cancer Quality of Care [BQUAL] study) designed to examine predictors of breast cancer treatment initiation and adherence, 685 women younger than 70 years with nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer were recruited from Columbia University Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and Henry Ford Health System and enrolled between May 2006 and July 31, 2010. Overall, 306 patients (45%) were clinically indicated to receive chemotherapy per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Participants were followed for up to 12 months. EXPOSURES: Baseline interviews assessed current use of 5 CAM modalities (vitamins and/or minerals, herbs and/or botanicals, other natural products, mind-body self-practice, mind-body practitioner-based practice). CAM use definitions included any use, dietary supplement use, mind-body use, and a CAM index summing the 5 modalities. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Chemotherapy initiation was assessed via self-report up to 12 months after baseline. Multivariable logistic regression models examined a priori hypotheses testing whether CAM use was associated with chemotherapy initiation, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates, and delineating groups by age and chemotherapy indication. RESULTS: A cohort of 685 women younger than 70 years (mean age, 59 years; median age, 59 years) with nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer were recruited and followed for up to 12 months to examine predictors of breast cancer treatment initiation. Baseline CAM use was reported by 598 women (87%). Chemotherapy was initiated by 272 women (89%) for whom chemotherapy was indicated, compared with 135 women (36%) for whom chemotherapy was discretionary. Among women for whom chemotherapy was indicated, dietary supplement users and women with high CAM index scores were less likely than nonusers to initiate chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.51; and OR per unit, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46-0.87, respectively). Use of mind-body practices was not related to chemotherapy initiation (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.57-3.59). There was no association between CAM use and chemotherapy initiation among women for whom chemotherapy was discretionary. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: CAM use was high among patients with early-stage breast cancer enrolled in a multisite prospective cohort study. Current dietary supplement use and higher number of CAM modalities used but not mind-body practices were associated with decreased initiation of clinically indicated chemotherapy. Oncologists should consider discussing CAM with their patients during the chemotherapy decision-making process.

A perspective on complementary/alternative medicine use among survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Benefits and uncertainties.

The widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer survivors is well known despite a paucity of scientific evidence to support its use. The number of survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) is growing rapidly and HCT clinicians are aware that many of their patients use CAM therapies consistently. However, due to a paucity of data regarding the benefits and harms of CAM therapies in these survivors, clinicians are reluctant to provide specific recommendations for or against particular CAM therapies. A systematic literature review was conducted with a search using PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Ovid online for each CAM therapy as defined by the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The search generated 462 references, of which 26 articles were deemed to be relevant for the review. Due to extensive heterogeneity in data and limited randomized trials, a meta-analysis could not be performed but a comprehensive systematic review was conducted with specified outcomes for each CAM therapy. In randomized controlled trials, certain mind and body interventions such as relaxation were observed to be effective in alleviating psychological symptoms in patients undergoing HCT, whereas the majority of the other CAM treatments were found to have mixed results. CAM use is an understudied area in HCT survivorship and clinicians should convey the benefits and uncertainties concerning the role of CAM therapies to their patients.

Reiki and related therapies in the dialysis ward: an evidence-based and ethical discussion to debate if these complementary and alternative medicines are welcomed or banned.

BACKGROUND: Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAMs) are increasingly practiced in the general population; it is estimated that over 30% of patients with chronic diseases use CAMs on a regular basis. CAMs are also used in hospital settings, suggesting a growing interest in individualized therapies. One potential field of interest is pain, frequently reported by dialysis patients, and seldom sufficiently relieved by mainstream therapies. Gentle-touch therapies and Reiki (an energy based touch therapy) are widely used in the western population as pain relievers.By integrating evidence based approaches and providing ethical discussion, this debate discusses the pros and cons of CAMs in the dialysis ward, and whether such approaches should be welcomed or banned. DISCUSSION: In spite of the wide use of CAMs in the general population, few studies deal with the pros and cons of an integration of mainstream medicine and CAMs in dialysis patients; one paper only regarded the use of Reiki and related practices. Widening the search to chronic pain, Reiki and related practices, 419 articles were found on Medline and 6 were selected (1 Cochrane review and 5 RCTs updating the Cochrane review). According to the EBM approach, Reiki allows a statistically significant but very low-grade pain reduction without specific side effects. Gentle-touch therapy and Reiki are thus good examples of approaches in which controversial efficacy has to be balanced against no known side effect, frequent free availability (volunteer non-profit associations) and easy integration with any other pharmacological or non pharmacological therapy. While a classical evidence-based approach, showing low-grade efficacy, is likely to lead to a negative attitude towards the use of Reiki in the dialysis ward, the ethical discussion, analyzing beneficium (efficacy) together with non maleficium (side effects), justice (cost, availability and integration with mainstream therapies) and autonomy (patients' choice) is likely to lead to a permissive-positive attitude. SUMMARY: This paper debates the current evidence on Reiki and related techniques as pain-relievers in an ethical framework, and suggests that physicians may wish to consider efficacy but also side effects, contextualization (availability and costs) and patient's requests, according also to the suggestions of the Society for Integrative Oncology (tolerate, control efficacy and side effects).

A large cross-sectional, descriptive study of self-reports after biofield therapy in Japan: demography, symptomology, and circumstances of treatment administration.

BACKGROUND: Practitioners apply biofield therapy in diverse situations; however, most previously published reports investigated its efficacy in a clinical setting with a few expert practitioners administering it. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to determine the factors associated with self-reported symptom change after a single session of Okada Purifying Therapy (OPT), a form of biofield therapy, in various settings and to analyze its optimal therapeutic environments. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used simple questionnaires. The research team trained 100 instructors of OPT to act as investigators for the study. The team recorded the initial lecture to those instructors on video, and the instructors used it to train other certified OPT practitioners in 222 locations. All investigators were volunteers. SETTINGS: The OPT sessions took place in various environments, including at MOA International Corporation's affiliated institutes, with or without clinics; at investigators' homes; and at participants' homes. PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 44 587 participants in total; all were Japanese, aged 16 or older, and suffering from physical pain, palpitation/dizziness, or anxiety/depression. INTERVENTION: The intervention involved one session of OPT lasting 30 minutes or longer administered by the volunteer practitioners. OUTCOME MEASURES: The research team evaluated the severity of symptoms before and after the intervention. The team examined (1) the self-reported change in each category of symptoms as measured after a session and (2) the adjusted odds ratio of the variables related to the outcomes. RESULTS: Of the analyzed participants, 69.7%, 67.5%, and 71.2% reported an improvement in the severity of physical pain, palpitation/dizziness, and anxiety/depression, respectively. Those rates, however, varied based on the participant's gender, the duration or location of the intervention, and the reason for participation. The improvement rate was consistently highest among female participants whose reason for participation involved a hope that OPT would relieve their symptoms or promote their health and who had received the therapy for more than 30 minutes in settings other than their own homes. This finding occurred regardless of the recipient's knowledge of the therapy or past experience of the intervention. The participant's gender, the duration of the intervention, and its location were also significant factors for marked improvements (a decrease in symptoms of 2 or 3 levels) in self-reported symptoms. In evaluating safety, the research team found that the exacerbation rates of reported symptoms were 2.5%, 1.1%, and 0.7% for physical pain, palpitation/dizziness, and anxiety/depression, respectively. None of those who expressed exacerbation of symptoms needed emergency medical treatment. No factor was associated consistently with the exacerbation. CONCLUSION: After a single session of biofield therapy, the participants' responses varied according to their gender, the duration and location of the intervention, and the reasons for participation.

Classification of CAM use and its correlates in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

HYPOTHESIS: Self-reported use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been shown to increase following a cancer diagnosis, and breast cancer survivors are the heaviest users among cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to determine whether the prevalence estimate of CAM use varied according to classification of CAM. The authors used a comprehensive system to classify CAM users and test differences in demographic, lifestyle, quality of life, and cancer characteristics among them. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants were 2562 breast cancer survivors participating in the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study, aged 28 to 74 years. A structured telephone interview assessed CAM use, questioning about specific CAM practices, and whether use was related to cancer. This study examined CAM use in relation to demographics, health behaviors, and quality of life. RESULTS: Approximately 80% of the women used CAM for general purposes but only 50% reported CAM use for cancer purposes. Visual imagery, spiritual healing, and meditation were the most frequently used practices for cancer purposes. CAM use, defined as consulting a CAM practitioner and regular use, was significantly related to younger age, higher education, increased fruit and vegetable intake, and lower body mass index (P < .05). CAM users who had seen a practitioner were also more likely to report poor physical and mental health than non-CAM users (P < .05). CAM use was not associated with changes in physical and mental health between study baseline and 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study addressed important differences in the classification of CAM use among breast cancer survivors. Future studies need to further test the potential benefits and risks associated with CAM use.

Reconnecting to nursing through Reiki.

Reiki and other energy modalities are included in the scope of nursing standards in many states and could address issues of stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Nurses are increasingly vulnerable to these conditions; Reiki could assist them in healing themselves and helping others.

Complementary medicine use in patients with head and neck cancer in Ireland.

The objectives of the study were: first, to determine the prevalence of traditional medicine (TM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in head and neck cancer patients in Ireland; second, to educate ourselves on the plethora of CAM/TM options available to patients outside the dominion of conventional medicine. The study design consisted of a cross-sectional survey carried out in three head and neck cancer centres. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 110 head and neck cancer patients attending the three cancer centres and data were collected for statistical analysis. A total of 106 patients completed the questionnaire; 21.7% of the participants used CAM/TM since their diagnosis with head and neck cancer. CAM/TM usage was higher in female (34.3%) than in male patients (16.2%). CAM/TM use was more common in the 41-50-year age group, in patients with higher educational levels and those holding strong religious beliefs, and also in married than single patients. The most common types of CAM/TM used were spiritual and laying on of hands. The most common reasons reported for using CAM/TM were to counteract the ill effects of treatment and increase the body's ability to fight cancer. Sources of information on CAM/TM were friends (65%), family (48%) and media (21%). This survey reveals a high prevalence of CAM/TM use in head and neck cancer patients, hence emphasising the need for otolaryngologists to educate themselves on the various therapies available to be able to provide informative advice. There is an urgent need for evidence-based investigation of various CAM/TM therapies currently offered to patients.

Does therapeutic touch ease the discomfort or distress of patients undergoing stereotactic core breast biopsy? A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether therapeutic touch administered at the time of stereotactic core biopsy of suspicious breast lesions results in a reduction in anxiety and pain. DESIGN: Randomized, patient-blinded, controlled trial of either Krieger-Kunz therapeutic touch administered by a trained practitioner or a sham intervention mimicking therapeutic touch delivered during core biopsy. SETTING: Stereotactic breast biopsy unit of a comprehensive breast center. PATIENTS: Women with mammographically detected, nonpalpable breast lesions requiring biopsy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in pain and anxiety measured by visual analog scales immediately before and after stereotactic core biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were accrued: 42 received actual therapeutic touch and 40 sham therapeutic touch. No significant differences were found between the arms for age, ethnicity, educational background, or other demographic data. The sham arm had a preponderance of left breast biopsies (48% vs 58%; P = 0.07) and received a slightly higher volume of epinephrine-containing local anesthetic (6.5 +/- 6.1 vs 4.5 +/- 4.5 mL; P = 0.09). Therapeutic touch patients were more likely to have an upper breast lesion location (57% vs 53%; P = 0.022). No significant differences between the arms were seen regarding postbiopsy pain (P = 0.95), anxiety (P = 0.66), fearfulness, or physiological parameters. Similarly, no differences were seen between the arms when change in parameters from prebiopsy to postbiopsy was considered for any of the psychological or physiological variables measured. These findings persisted when confounding variables were controlled for. CONCLUSIONS: Women undergoing stereotactic core breast biopsy received no significant benefit from therapeutic touch administered during the procedure. Therapeutic touch cannot be routinely recommended for patients in this setting.