Facilitating comfort for hospitalized patients using non-pharmacological measures: Preliminary development of clinical practice guidelines

Date

2009

Authors

Williams, Anne M.
Davies, Anna
Griffiths, Gareth

Journal Title

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Volume Title

Publisher

Blackwell Science Asia

Abstract

Nurses often use non-pharmacological measures to facilitate comfort for patients within the hospital setting. However, guidelines for use of these measures are commonly inadequate or absent. This paper presents 12 clinical practice guidelines that were developed from the findings of a literature review into non-pharmacological measures that are thought to facilitate patient comfort. The non-pharmacological measures addressed in these guidelines are: Aromotherapy, Distraction, Guided Imagery, Laughter, Massage, Music, Reiki, Heat or Cold, Meditation, Reflexology, Reposition and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. These are preliminary guidelines for the use of non-pharmacological measures and further research and development of such guidelines is recommended.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: alternative medicine; hospital patient; human; patient satisfaction; practice guideline; psychological aspect; review; Complementary Therapies; Humans; Inpatients; Patient Satisfaction; Practice Guidelines as Topic Comfort; Complementary therapies; Hospitalization; Practice guideline; Review literature

Citation

Source

International Journal of Nursing Practice

Type

Journal article

Book Title

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Access Statement

License Rights

Restricted until

2037-12-31