Touch has been linked empirically to healing outcomes; therefore, developing theories about the dynamics between touch and healing is important for nursing. A practice-based theory is described within a Unitary Science perspective emerging from the findings of a qualitative descriptive study of the experiences of persons with advanced cancer receiving touch (massage and simple touch) during hospice care. Seventeen participants were interviewed. Through content analysis and retroductive constructivist theory development, healing through touch was described as a dynamic process cocreated by healer and healee, characterized by the simultaneous activities of sensing, reflecting, and connecting. Interpretation of findings from a unitary lens led to an overarching theme of touch as sanctuary and explication of theoretical alignment with the concepts of wholeness, awareness, and presence.

触摸已根据经验与治疗结果相关联；因此，发展关于触摸和愈合之间的动力学的理论对护理很重要。基于实践的理论是在单一科学的视角下描述的，该视角来自对晚期癌症患者在临终关怀期间接受触摸（按摩和简单触摸）经历的定性描述性研究的结果。采访了 17 名参与者。通过内容分析和逆向建构主义理论的发展，通过触摸治愈被描述为一个由治疗者和被治疗者共同创造的动态过程，其特点是感知、反思和连接的同时活动。对单一镜头的发现的解释导致了触摸作为避难所的总体主题，并解释了与整体性、意识和存在的概念的理论一致性。