Touching happens fewer and fewer by the results of the automation and industrialization (Sluijter, 2002). For some reason, touching is not as usual as it has been in former times. Nowadays, touching became a taboo, especially the growing publicity and the influences of the media upon it, makes that touching …

INTRODUCTION: A stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), although potentially life-saving, may cause considerable discomfort to patients. However, retrospective assessment of discomfort is difficult because recollection of stressful events may be impaired by sedation and severe illness during the ICU stay. …