Making a Difference Through Touch

Aromatherapy Practitioners at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth don't always use essential oils to assist the patients. Sometimes we use a valuable touch tool called the M® technique. Dr. Jane Buckle Ph.D, RN created this technique to communicate with critical patients through touch. It is quite different from massage, in that, it is done in a set pressure, speed, and sequence She has taught it to anyone wanting to relieve pain and anxiety on a sick loved one.

Florence A. Raquepo RNC-NIC, BSN, CCAP has spent 14 years at THFW Neonatal ICU and has had the opportunity to use this technique on her unit. Applying essential oils with neonates is not currently used at our facility. Florence wanted to find a way to make a difference in the care of infants. She used the M® technique in a small study to see if this non-pharmacological intervention would be effective in decreasing pain in neonates with circumcisions. Most male neonates do not receive any type of pharmacological intervention after this procedure. With the permission of their parents, she randomly selected 10 neonates at 34-36 weeks of gestation. Six were given the M® technique 2 hours post circumcision for 10-15 minutes and four did not. They were all monitored the same after the procedure by measuring blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, respiration, and NIPS (Neonatal Infant Pain Scale). Her findings in the interventional group showed that they had a relaxed status, lower to no pain, and improved oxygen saturation, whereas, the control group of 4 showed irritability proven with higher heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, lower oxygen saturation, and increased pain scale. Florence feels that her study has had a very positive impact on relaxation and decreasing pain.

All the parents in the interventional group were very supportive and appreciative of how their babies reacted. Florence now gives instruction on the M® technique to parents in the unit. They try to perform some of the techniques that their infants like by touching the legs, feet, knees, face, head, arms, and hands. Great job!

Florence says she is very hopeful that she will be able to submit her small study for publication someday soon.

Remember, any age group can benefit from this technique. It can easily be taught to staff and family members who want to be involved in comforting their loved ones in times of pain, withdrawal situations, and procedures. When patients are in the hospital, sometimes families feel there is not much they can do to help. This is a way of making them feel involved, and putting them back into direct care of their family.













(Florence Raquepo)
Photo Credit: Glen E. Ellman

- By Erin Munoz, RN