Effects of rub stimulation on brain activation in patients with acute phase consciousness disorder

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K12228
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Clinical nursing
• Research Institution: Showa University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Akiko 昭和大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (90424275)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: さする / 背部 / 呼吸 / 脳波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The study of “rub” stimuli on patients with impaired consciousness could not be conducted due to coronary infection, as consent could not be obtained from the subject's family. The following are the results for healthy subjects. Respiration rate and EEG were measured after 6 minutes of rest and 3 minutes of back stimulation. Respiration rate increased significantly more with the “rub” stimulus than with the “touch” stimulus. (P=0.039) Alpha was significantly lower in the EEG for the “rub” stimulus than for the “touch” stimulus. (P=0.011) VAS increased significantly more pleasantly than pre-stimulus for both stimuli. (P=0.007,P=0.0003) Oxytocin was significantly higher with the “rub” stimulus. This suggests that rubbing the back for 3 minutes is a pleasant sensation and is useful as a method of reducing pain.

Free Research Field

臨床看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

意識障害患者への「さする」刺激の研究は、コロナ感染症の影響で対象者の家族から同意を得ることができず実施できなかった。しかし今回健常者で実施した結果から、今後だれもが普段実施しているさする刺激を、意識障害患者の背部に３分間実施することにより、意識障害患者にも気持ちの良い刺激となり、呼吸数や脳波が変化する可能性のある基礎的研究が実施できたことは社会的に意義ある成果であったと言える。今後意識障害患者に実施し、健常者と同様の成果がでれば、看護師が意識障害患者へ体位変換を実施する際、3分間さするだけで、意識回復の一助になる可能性のある意義ある研究であると言える。