Login
       
  • The potential for haptic touch technology to supplement human empathetic touch during radiotherapy

Goldsworthy, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1189-9897, Zheng, Caroline Yan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5277-3863, McNair, Helen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7389-5587 and McGregor, Alison ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4672-332X, 2020, Journal Article, The potential for haptic touch technology to supplement human empathetic touch during radiotherapy Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 51 (4). pp. 39-43. ISSN 1939-8654

Abstract or Description:

Radiotherapy for cancer is an effective treatment but requires precise delivery. Patients are required to remain still in the same position during procedure which may be uncomfortable. This combined with high anxiety experienced by patients, and feelings of isolation, have indicated a need for comfort interventions. Care conveyed through empathetic touch promotes comfort, individual attention and presence and provides both psychological and physical comfort at the same time. Evidence in nursing and care literature showed that empathetic touch interventions have a significant role in promoting comfort, facilitating communication between care recipients and caregivers. However, the application of empathetic touch interventions may be challenging to administer due to the safety concern in the radiotherapy environment. The emergence of haptic technologies that enable the communication of touch remotely may have a potential to fill this gap. We take inspiration from both clinical empathetic touch in radiotherapy practice, as well as affective haptic technologies to envision the opportunities for haptic technologies as a complimentary comfort intervention to supplement human empathetic touch during radiotherapy.

Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...
Subjects: Other > Subjects allied to Medicine > B800 Medical Technology > B890 Medical Technology not elsewhere classified
Creative Arts and Design > W200 Design studies > W290 Design studies not elsewhere classified
School or Centre: School of Communication
School of Design
Identification Number or DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2020.09.003
Uncontrolled Keywords: Comfort interventions; Radiotherapy; Haptics; Tactile touch; Empathetic touch
Date Deposited: 17 Dec 2020 21:23
Last Modified: 24 Sep 2021 08:38
URI: https://researchonline.rca.ac.uk/id/eprint/4569
Edit Item (login required) Edit Item (login required)