Impact of a Medical School Elective in Cultivating Compassion Through Touch Therapies

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of an elective for second-year students on cultivating compassion through complementary and alternative medicine practices including therapeutic touch and healing touch. Course participants completed demographic questions, precourse and postcourse questions about confidence and practice in compassion, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Those who completed the elective reported significant improvements in confidence, practice, and sense of personal achievement. For example, for the statement, “I am confident in being calm, peaceful and focused (centered) before and during patient encounters,” scores improved from 1.7 to 8.0 on a 10-point scale (p