Verification of relaxation effect on the family itself to treatment the tactile care for the elderly with dementia

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25671004
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Gerontological nursing
• Research Institution: Kanazawa Medical University
• Principal Investigator: KOIZUMI Yumi 金沢医科大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (70550763)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KOHNO Yumiko 金沢医科大学, 看護学部, 講師 (90566861) ; SAKAI Keiko 金沢医科大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (40566858) ; SAKAI Keiko 金沢医科大学, 看護学部, 教授 (60454229) ; MATSUI Yuko 金沢医科大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (00613712) ; KYUJI Kazuyou 福井県立大学, 看護福祉部, 講師 (00550782)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: タクティールケア / 施術者 / リラックス効果 / 認知症高齢者 / 家族介護者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to verify relaxation effects experienced by skilled tactile care practitioners. The study method consisted of comparisons in physiological and psychological indices between treatment, where the practitioners performed 30 minutes of tactile care, and control, where practitioners sat for 30 minutes without performing tactile care. Results showed that treatment led to a significant activation in the parasympathetic nerves and a significant decrease in the sympathetic nerve activities compared to control during the study. The saliva immunoglobulin A level significantly increased and the degree of oxidation in oxidation-reduction potential significantly decreased after treatment compared to after control. Moreover, activity, stability, and comfort level were significantly greater on the two-dimensional mood scale after treatment. These results objectively verified that skilled practitioners themselves can achieve a relaxation effect by performing tactile care.

Free Research Field

老年看護学