Healing hands: therapeutic touch may ease pain and delirium in ICU patients

NCT ID NCT07404904

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Sibel Oksuz Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether therapeutic touch — a gentle, non-invasive technique — can reduce pain, delirium, and improve sleep in 80 intensive care patients. Researchers measured pain, sedation, sleep quality, and vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate. The goal was to see if this simple, drug-free approach could make ICU stays more comfortable.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: therapeutic touch (a gentle, non-invasive hands-on technique)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to ease pain and improve sleep for intensive care patients.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with no blinding, so results may be influenced by placebo effects. The approach is not a cure and may not work for everyone.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

delirium insomnia Pain Parasomnias sleep disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DELIRIUM SLEEP DISTURBANCE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Aksaray Universitesi

Aksaray, 68100, Turkey (Türkiye)

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