Healing Touch and Quality of Life in Women Receiving Radiation Treatment for Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Cynthia Loveland Cook, PhD, MSW, RN, Joanne Guerrerio, RN, BSN, CHTP, and Vicki Slater, PHD, RN, CHTP

Fatigue is a common, yet little understood, response to radiation therapy. Not only does its incidence range from 65% to 100%, it has been cited as one of the most sever side effects of radiation therapy (Nail & King, 1987). Described as unusual and extreme tiredness, radiation- induced fatigue is not readily alleviated by usual self-care activities, such as getting rest, adequate nutrition and exercise. For some people, a slow and gradual recovery of energy may occur, but for others there is no recovery at all. To date, there is no satisfactory explanation or treatment for this debilitating form of fatigue. Although the underlying mechanisms causing radiation-induce fatigue are largely unknown, one explanatory factor involves its relationship to an individual’s energy field. It is purported that radiation therapy damages or traumatizes the intact energy field that surrounds an individual, thereby depleting her or his levels of energy. With the support of Healing Touch St. Louis, data collection was recently completed in a study investigating how well Healing Touch (HT) reduces fatigue in women receiving radiation therapy of gynecological and breast cancer.

A randomized clinical trial was conducted with a sample 62 women receiving radiation treatment for gynecological and breast cancer at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Adult women over 17 years of age whose cancer required either internal or external radiation therapy were enrolled in the study. Exclusionary criteria included women who: (a) had terminal cancer whose condition was likely to change dramatically, (b) hade received HT in the past for any condition, (c)were unable to read English, or (d) were cognitively impaired. Eligible subjects were then randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. The treatment group received a total of six healing touch treatments by Level II of Level III HT practitioners, whereas the control group received six mock treatments by Research Associates not trained in HT.

The primary outcome variable, fatigue, was measured using a self-administered Visual Analog Scale (VAS) that was administered immediately before and after each HT/mock fatigue, specifically “Not Tired, Full of Energy” and “Total Exhaustion”. Subjects marked the line at that point, which most accurately depicted their level of fatigue. Covariate variables were measured in the study, including functional status (SF-36), emotional well-being (Profile of Mood States), radiation dose, fatigue-inducing medications, and laboratory values (e.g., hemoglobin, hematocrit, and potassium). Data on the latter three covariates are currently being conducted. Comparisons of mean VAS scores before and after the six treatment sessions show proportionately larger reductions in fatigue in the HT group than that control group.

Furthermore, the HT group demonstrated more pronounced improvements in their levels of depression, anxiety, and anger compared to the control group. Subjects who received Healing Touch demonstrated better quality of life as measured by the SF-36 in all nine domains with significant differences in vitality, pain, and physical functioning.

Citation:
Cook, C.A.L., Guerrerio, J.F., Slater, V.E. (2001) Healing Touch and Quality of Life in Women Receiving Radiation Treatment for Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial, In Wind-Wardell, D. (Ed.) Healing Touch Research Survey (September, 2009, 10th Edition) pp. 12-13.