FitzHenry, F., Wells, N., Slater, V., Dietrich, M.S., Wisawatapnimit, P., & Chakravarthy, A.B. (2013). A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study of the impact of healing touch on fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 13, 105-113.

To compare weekly healing touch to weekly sham therapy on fatigue in women receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer

Participants were randomized to receive either weekly healing touch or weekly sham therapy. Participants were blinded to group assignment. Each session was 45 minutes in length. Participants either wore a neck drape or blindfold so as not to see how the treatment was delivered.

• N = 41  
• MEAN AGE = 51.5 years (SD = 9.2)
• FEMALES: 100%
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Patients with breast cancer receiving radiation therapy
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: 34 of 41 were Caucasian

• SITE: Single site  
• SETTING TYPE: Outpatient  
• LOCATION: Not identified

• PHASE OF CARE: Active anti-tumor treatment

• Randomized, controlled pilot study

• Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI)
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Breast (FACT-B)

Depression was positively correlated with fatigue measures. Anxiety was positively associated with fatigue interference. Healing touch participants reported higher levels of fatigue throughout study than control participants. The control group reported greater reduction in fatigue than did the healing touch group.

This pilot study demonstrated that the intervention was feasible. However the study did not demonstrate any benefit in reduction of fatigue in this small sample.

• Small sample (< 100)
• Baseline sample/group differences of import
• Selective outcomes reporting
• Findings not generalizable
• Intervention expensive, impractical, or training needs are required

Healing touch is not harmful to patients, but this small study does not support its use to reduce fatigue in women receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer.