Effects of Physical Touch on Treatment Outcomes and Patient Perception in Individuals With Back and Neck Pain: an Experimental Study

Research findings indicate that the interaction between healthcare professionals and patients can significantly influence both treatment expectations and their effectiveness. A compassionate, caring, and attentive doctor-patient interaction plays a crucial role in patient satisfaction and promotes accelerated recovery. Moreover, patient expectations are not solely shaped by interactions with healthcare providers but are also conceptualized through conditioning processes as one of the key mechanisms of the placebo effect. The effective performance of medical staff can further intensify patient expectations, contributing to an increased placebo response. While the effects of verbal communication on the placebo effect have been extensively studied, there is less research on the impact of nonverbal factors such as touch. Touch is a fundamental aspect of social interaction that can positively affect well-being and health. Touch is regarded as a mechanism for the positive health effects of social relationships and plays a significant role in bonding, communication, and reward. Physical touch can provide patients with a sense of presence and grounding, helping them feel seen, reassured, relaxed, and validated. In medical treatment, touch can enhance a sense of being taken seriously and cared for, thereby alleviating suffering and improving well-being. However, the full range of communicative potential in professional touch remains largely untapped, while a well-founded interdisciplinary synthesis is still lacking. For the planned study, we aim to recruit German-speaking adult participants who report current back or neck pain. Recruitment will be carried out through targeted outreach via various channels such as mailing lists, internet forums, and flyers. In an online experiment, we will initially assess baseline treatment expectations and current pain intensity. Subsequently, participants will be randomized into two experimental conditions. Participants will engage in a 45-minute interaction, comprising a structured opening, a brief interview, a standardized diagnostic examination, a detailed explanation of the pain relief cream, specific exercises, and a final farewell. Within the two experimental groups, physical interaction, specifically the application of professional touch techniques, in the form of procedural touch (serving diagnostic or therapeutic purposes), will be manipulated by aspiring pain specialists to examine its influence on various treatment parameters such as treatment expectations, treatment effects, treatment adherence, and participant motivation. Additionally, perceived empathy as well as warmth and competence of the treating person will be analyzed as relevant factors. Following the interaction, participants will be asked to perform specific exercises daily for one week and apply a placebo cream. Adherence to these medical and behavioral measures is a critical outcome criterion. At the end of the study, a systematic assessment of relevant behavioral parameters will be conducted to quantify potential changes in participants' behavior related to the interventions performed.