Author: Natalie L Dyer1, Samuel N Rodgers-Melnick2, Karen E Fink3, Santosh Rao4, Jessica Surdam5, Jeffery A Dusek6
Affiliation:
1 Connor Whole Health, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA; Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA. Electronic address: natalie.dyer@uhhospitals.org.
2 Connor Whole Health, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
3 Connor Whole Health, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA.
4 Connor Whole Health, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
5 Connor Whole Health, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA.
6 Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Conference/Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage
Date published: 2024 Nov 27
Other:
Pages: S0885-3924(24)01132-1 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.11.017. , Word Count: 252
Context:
Reiki is a biofield therapy from Japan currently used in many US hospitals. Evidence supports Reiki's effectiveness for addressing cancer and treatment-related symptoms such as pain and anxiety. However, no study to date has assessed changes in nausea following Reiki received during infusion treatments or assessed patients from multiple healthcare locations.
Objectives:
To evaluate a Reiki program for outpatients with cancer and other chronic illnesses receiving infusion treatments (e.g., chemotherapy) at two University Hospitals infusion centers.
Methods:
Participants in the outpatient infusion clinics completed Edmonton Symptom Assessment System measures of pain, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, and well-being before and after receiving a 15-20-minute Reiki session during their infusion. Data analysis included means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of single-session effects on measures where the pre-session score was ≥1 and analysis of post-session comments.
Results:
Between March 2022 and February 2024, 392 Reiki sessions were provided to 268 unique patients (mean age 63.3 ± 13.9, 57.5% female, 71.6% White, 26.5% Black/African American). Participants reported clinically significant mean [95% CI] improvements (≥1 unit) in pain (-1.78 [-2.38, -1.18]), fatigue (-1.33 [-1.85, -0.82]), anxiety (-2.09 [-2.68, -1.50]), nausea (-2.30 [-2.95. -1.62), and wellbeing (1.37 [0.95, 1.79]). Participants also commented that the Reiki session was a positive experience helpful for promoting relaxation and symptom reduction.
Conclusions:
Outpatients receiving Reiki during infusion reported clinically significant improvements in all symptoms, high levels of satisfaction, and a qualitatively positive healing experience. More research is needed to assess long term changes following Reiki, including with an expanded program at additional healthcare locations.
Keywords: Reiki; anxiety; biofield therapy; cancer; pain; symptoms.
PMID: 39613272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.11.017
