The aim of the present literature review was to describe and evaluate the effects and experiences within the complementary approaches such as Aromatherapy, tactile massage and acupuncture amongst palliative care patients. Search through Medline (through Pub Med) database and additional manual search was conducted. In total 16 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The result was presented under respectively category: Aromatherapy, tactile massage and acupuncture. Physical and psychological effects as well as experiences from the treatments were also documented under the different complementary approaches.

Bakgrund: Aktuell forskning har exempelvis visat att patienter som drabbats av en stroke och fått massage under tiden på sjukhuset förbättrat sin förmåga att genomföra aktiviteter i det dagliga livet snabbare än kontrollgruppen.Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva patienters upplevelser av mjuk massage inom sjukvården.Metod: Litteraturöversikten baseras på tio kvalitativa och en kvantitativ artikel vilka har funnits i databasen Cinahl. Fribergs analysmetod har använts i analysdelen. Sökorden var: touch, experience, care, touching, patient, nursing, nurs*, massage, tactile, tactile massage, soft tissue massage och Aromatherapy. I diskussionen kopplas resultatet till den teoretiska utgångspunkten som är Katie Erikssons omvårdnadsteori, samt det vårdvetenskapliga konsensusbegreppet vårda.Resultat: I resultatet framkom fyra teman varav ett har två underteman. I första temat, Relationen till massören, beskrivs patientens relation och känslor gentemot massören.

IntroductionTactile Massage is a generic term that for example includes Massage therapy, Effleurage, Gentle touch, Tactile stimulation, Soft massage and Aromatherapy massage (SBU 2009). Tactile Massage has been proven to activate the perception receptors of the body and stimulates the system of oxytocin and in that way Tactile massage increase wellbeing and decrease pain. The Church of Sweden was formally separated from the state in the year of 2000 and by this means created greater freedom in facilitating its own social and Deaconal programs in separate parishes. Since 2004 a few numbers of deacons have been integrating Tactile massage as a method in Deaconal  ministry within the framework of holistic care in the Church of Sweden.Aim/Research questionsThe aim: From a holistic perspective investigate the use of and to increase the problem-awareness of Tactile massage in the Deaconal ministry within the Church of Sweden.The research questions: How is Tactile massage being used and how are we to describe the experiences of Tactile massage in the Deaconal ministry? What possibilities and difficulties are related to the use of Tactile massage in the Deaconal ministry within the Church of Sweden?MethodThis study is the first explorative research about Tactile massage in Swedish church diaconal context.