Background: Touch plays an important role throughout the life of humans. It can be used to comfort, to support and to soothe. It can reinforce what is being said and done. During illness a patient can experience a lack of touch, which can be detrimental to a person's health. Caring touch can then play a significant role.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe adult patients' experiences of caring touch in somatic hospital care. Method: A method to contribute to evidence-based nursing with ground in analysis of qualitative research was performed to get a better understanding of patients' experiences of caring touch. An analysis of eight qualitative articles was carried out. The analysis resulted in five main themes and sixteen subthemes.

Results: The main themes were; I am important, my experience of the performance, my feelings, help with my pain and the body starts to function again. The patients' experiences of caring touch show that it is often popular and has positive effects for the patient.

Conclusion: Caring touch can give the patient a feeling of being important, that she or he has a value as a human being. If performed with sensitivity and respect the outcome can be beneficial to the patient. The patient's emotions may be positively influenced and a sense of well-being may arise. Personal concerns can be put aside for a moment.