Knowledge, Perception and Attitude of Nursing Students and Faculty Regarding Therapeutic Touch: A Cross-Sectional Study

Knowledge, Perception and Attitude of Nursing Students and Faculty Regarding Therapeutic Touch: A Cross-Sectional Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Knowledge, Perception and Attitude of Nursing Students and Faculty Regarding Therapeutic Touch: A Cross-Sectional Study Hanem F. Mohammed, Moudi S. Al Bargawi, Tengsy Thomas, Bushra Alshahrani, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8221165/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background/Aim: Alternative and complementary medicine (ACM) including therapeutic touch (TT) is a treatment modality for patients with different health disorders. This modality helps identify illness, manipulate symptoms, helps patients to relax, boosts the body's natural recovery, and motivates positive energy which promotes physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being. TT in Saudi culture is of special significance since awareness about the concept, perception and attitude toward its adoption and application not fully exposed. The aim of this study is to assess knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of nursing students and faculties regarding TT. Methods: A descriptive comparative cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 253 nursing students and 43 faculty members at CON-R, KSAU-HS. A self-report survey was used utilizing a modified version of the knowledge, perception and attitude of health profession faculty questionnaire. Results: The mean age of faculty was 38.9 (9.98) and 21.22 (.94) for students. Most faculty were assistant professors and majority of students were in level 7 and 8. Majority of the faculty reported good knowledge, while considerable percentage of students reported fair knowledge of TT. Regarding perception, faculty and students reported intention to use TT in their nursing practice in the future and agreement to recommend or refer a family/friends or patients to a TT practitioner. As for attitude, majority of the faculty and a substantial percentage of the students reported a positive attitude toward TT. Conclusion and Recommendations: Findings from the current study highlight a significant variation in knowledge, perception and attitudes toward TT between faculty and students. Although, students’ perception and attitude toward TT was promising, their awareness was not adequate. Incorporating TT as a part of CAM in nursing curriculum and clinical practice is recommended. Developing personalized and holistic plan that is culturally competent with further investigation of barriers and facilitators of its adoption and application is also required. Intervention studies along with qualitative perspectives could be also influential. Health sciences/Health care Biological sciences/Psychology Social science/Psychology Therapeutic touch knowledge perception attitude Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 14 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 16 Jan, 2026 Editor invited by journal 02 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 28 Nov, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 28 Nov, 2025 First submitted to journal 27 Nov, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8221165","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":576110968,"identity":"faeca222-bfcb-4f5a-8a47-183be92ecaaa","order_by":0,"name":"Hanem F. Mohammed","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA9klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHhDBnMAPphkOgAgD4rRI9pCsxeAMsVp023sPfrpRYZ1nfOb4w888DHfsGdibt0kw/LHDqcXszLlk6Zwz6cVmZ3uMpXkYniU28Bwrk2BsS8at5UaOgXRu2+HEbed5GKR5/x1OYJDIMZNgbGDGp8X4d+6/w4mb+9kf/+ZhOGzPIP/GDOiwenxazKRzGw4nbuBtMAM67DBjgwQPUAvbYTx+OWNmnXMsPXEGkGE5h+FwYhtPWrFFYttx3FqO9xjfzqmxTuzvSX984w3QYfzshzfe+PCnGqcWTMAGIhJI0DAKRsEoGAWjABMAAK+rVBNT/08yAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hanem","middleName":"F.","lastName":"Mohammed","suffix":""},{"id":576110969,"identity":"f63ae045-5f7b-4e2f-9fab-5b13293dd0dc","order_by":1,"name":"Moudi S. Al Bargawi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Moudi","middleName":"S. Al","lastName":"Bargawi","suffix":""},{"id":576110970,"identity":"74810e31-496f-4c32-9a05-323df91191ae","order_by":2,"name":"Tengsy Thomas","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tengsy","middleName":"","lastName":"Thomas","suffix":""},{"id":576110971,"identity":"d59dfd44-3b07-4a47-8cbd-6587d89c2a24","order_by":3,"name":"Bushra Alshahrani","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bushra","middleName":"","lastName":"Alshahrani","suffix":""},{"id":576110972,"identity":"a53d566d-b1c5-41c7-b7eb-fc27a126e139","order_by":4,"name":"Maha Aleissa","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Maha","middleName":"","lastName":"Aleissa","suffix":""},{"id":576110973,"identity":"65b5026d-505e-4888-9250-bef2891da526","order_by":5,"name":"Maylan H. Alhayzan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Maylan","middleName":"H.","lastName":"Alhayzan","suffix":""},{"id":576110974,"identity":"82d7e192-2978-4766-ab57-c5d252cbf9e6","order_by":6,"name":"Norah Salman","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Norah","middleName":"","lastName":"Salman","suffix":""},{"id":576110975,"identity":"22eba73b-cbd6-4386-8db5-ad13bb607cec","order_by":7,"name":"Ansam Alsharahan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ansam","middleName":"","lastName":"Alsharahan","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-11-27 10:53:33","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8221165/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8221165/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":100639645,"identity":"98188a4a-c312-4e98-81fe-d9aa687a7b76","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 02:48:00","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":267489,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"TherapeuticTouchManuscriptforScientificReportJournal.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8221165/v1/26cbedb19255b260eed0e896.pdf"},{"id":100639680,"identity":"7849c1fc-9c03-477f-9b60-e0fc7ec9d079","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 02:48:15","extension":"json","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":9705,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"468afca0cb544f4d9d47eed1618bff5e.json","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8221165/v1/e40d5f178c16120a54a40981.json"},{"id":100639681,"identity":"7c6f481c-a57e-41e4-b57a-cc631b13c4f1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 02:48:24","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":388418,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"TherapeuticTouchManuscriptforScientificReportJournal.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8221165/v1_covered_03f34b48-4389-4fce-b472-6bfde9baad94.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Knowledge, Perception and Attitude of Nursing Students and Faculty Regarding Therapeutic Touch: A Cross-Sectional Study","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Therapeutic touch, knowledge, perception, attitude","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8221165/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8221165/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eBackground/Aim: Alternative and complementary medicine (ACM) including therapeutic touch (TT) is a treatment modality for patients with different health disorders. This modality helps identify illness, manipulate symptoms, helps patients to relax, boosts the body's natural recovery, and motivates positive energy which promotes physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being. TT in Saudi culture is of special significance since awareness about the concept, perception and attitude toward its adoption and application not fully exposed. The aim of this study is to assess knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of nursing students and faculties regarding TT.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMethods: A descriptive comparative cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 253 nursing students and 43 faculty members at CON-R, KSAU-HS. A self-report survey was used utilizing a modified version of the knowledge, perception and attitude of health profession faculty questionnaire.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResults: The mean age of faculty was 38.9 (9.98) and 21.22 (.94) for students. Most faculty were assistant professors and majority of students were in level 7 and 8. Majority of the faculty reported good knowledge, while considerable percentage of students reported fair knowledge of TT. Regarding perception, faculty and students reported intention to use TT in their nursing practice in the future and agreement to recommend or refer a family/friends or patients to a TT practitioner. As for attitude, majority of the faculty and a substantial percentage of the students reported a positive attitude toward TT.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConclusion and Recommendations: Findings from the current study highlight a significant variation in knowledge, perception and attitudes toward TT between faculty and students. Although, students’ perception and attitude toward TT was promising, their awareness was not adequate. Incorporating TT as a part of CAM in nursing curriculum and clinical practice is recommended. Developing personalized and holistic plan that is culturally competent with further investigation of barriers and facilitators of its adoption and application is also required. Intervention studies along with qualitative perspectives could be also influential.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Knowledge, Perception and Attitude of Nursing Students and Faculty Regarding Therapeutic Touch: A Cross-Sectional Study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-20 02:47:20","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8221165/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-14T23:20:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"29378447071876922316102253958917658320","date":"2026-05-09T10:22:53+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"212703354390033583436936070672518843951","date":"2026-05-07T12:58:19+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"33122943299061620199085167575458564833","date":"2026-01-21T13:22:32+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"105348829139146766302188637678001255156","date":"2026-01-17T13:04:54+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-16T12:54:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-02T08:02:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-11-28T07:36:21+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-11-28T07:35:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-11-27T10:42:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"93a3a50b-9ffd-4189-8b0d-7495b4ee74ae","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 20th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-14T23:20:24+00:00","index":111,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"29378447071876922316102253958917658320","date":"2026-05-09T10:22:53+00:00","index":108,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"212703354390033583436936070672518843951","date":"2026-05-07T12:58:19+00:00","index":107,"fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":61301353,"name":"Health sciences/Health care"},{"id":61301354,"name":"Biological sciences/Psychology"},{"id":61301355,"name":"Social science/Psychology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-20T02:47:20+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-20 02:47:20","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8221165","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8221165","identity":"rs-8221165","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}