This paper examines the use of touch by various health professionals within the health care system. Trends, norms and standards of touching behavior in society in general are discussed, It is hypothesized that such norms and standards can be altered by desensitization through touching. The results of a project involving two consecutive classes of third year occupational therapy students are reported. An analysis of covariance did not show a significant difference between the experimental and the control group. However, differences observed between the two groups in an interview situation suggest that important changes may have occured.
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