Print

[YanTing]

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® Volume 34(4), May 2017, p 373–379

Reiki Therapy for Symptom Management in Children Receiving Palliative Care: A Pilot Study

Thrane, Susan E. PhD, MSN, RN1,; Maurer, Scott H. MD2; Ren, Dianxu MD, PhD3; Danford, Cynthia A. PhD, CRNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP-PC3; Cohen, Susan M. PhD, APRN, FAAN3

1 College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
2 Palliative Care, Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
3 School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Susan E. Thrane, PhD, MSN, RN, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, 322 Newton Hall, 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210

Abstract

Background:

Pain may be reported in one-half to three-fourths of children with cancer and other terminal conditions and anxiety in about one-third of them. Pharmacologic methods do not always give satisfactory symptom relief. Complementary therapies such as Reiki may help children manage symptoms.

Objective:

This pre–post mixed-methods single group pilot study examined feasibility, acceptability, and the outcomes of pain, anxiety, and relaxation using Reiki therapy with children receiving palliative care.

Methods:

A convenience sample of children ages 7 to 16 and their parents were recruited from a palliative care service. Two 24-minute Reiki sessions were completed at the children’s home. Paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were calculated to compare change from pre to post for outcome variables. Significance was set at P < .10. Cohen d effect sizes were calculated.

Results:

The final sample included 8 verbal and 8 nonverbal children, 16 mothers, and 1 nurse. All mean scores for outcome variables decreased from pre- to posttreatment for both sessions. Significant decreases for pain for treatment 1 in nonverbal children (P = .063) and for respiratory rate for treatment 2 in verbal children (P = .009). Cohen d effect sizes were medium to large for most outcome measures.

Discussion:

Decreased mean scores for outcome measures indicate that Reiki therapy did decrease pain, anxiety, heart, and respiratory rates, but small sample size deterred statistical significance. This preliminary work suggests that complementary methods of treatment such as Reiki may be beneficial to support traditional methods to manage pain and anxiety in children receiving palliative care.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1049909116630973


Excerpts:

“Many parents choose to augment pharmacotherapy with complementary therapies to achieve pain and anxiety relief without excess sedation or reduction of the child’s ability to interact with family and friends. 8,9 Reiki therapy, a gentle, noninvasive complementary technique has shown promise in achieving this balance. In adults, Reiki has demonstrated good clinical effect but it has only recently been empirically studied in children. 10 Based on adult studies, Reiki therapy is likely well suited for symptom management in children with life threatening and chronic illnesses in all phases of palliative care. 11,12

“Reiki therapy is a relaxing energy therapy wherein the practitioner uses light touch or positions hands slightly above the body. In a recent study of 213 adults receiving Reiki therapy, participants felt Reiki was relaxing, peaceful, and calming, and they experienced at least a 50% decrease in distress, anxiety, and pain. 13 Before 2013, there was no literature examining the use of Reiki therapy with children. Since then, 3 studies have been published: (1) a feasibility study that trained 18 parents in the use of Reiki therapy, 14 (2) a double-blind randomized control trial exploring Reiki for postoperative oral pain in 38 children, 15 and (3) a case study of a single child exploring the use of Reiki for relaxation and stress reduction for a child with a history of seizures. 16"

“There have been no scientific studies examining the use of Reiki therapy with children receiving palliative care. To address this gap in the use of Reiki therapy in a pediatric population, this study sought to examine the feasibility and acceptability of using Reiki therapy for children aged 7 to 16 years receiving palliative care.”

“The intervention consisted of two 24-minute Reiki therapy sessions in the child’s home with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 days between sessions. Each Reiki therapy session utilized a protocol of 12 hand positions held for 2 minutes each.”

“Mean scores decreased for all outcome variables when comparing pre to post Reiki treatments for both verbal and nonverbal children but few were significant (Table 3). Statistical significance was found for decreased respiratory rate for treatment 2 (Tx2) in verbal children. For nonverbal children, there was a significant decrease for pain for Tx2 and decreased respiratory rate for the overall intervention. Effect sizes were medium to large for most outcome variables for treatments 1 (Tx1) and Tx2 for both verbal and nonverbal children as indicated by the Cohen d statistic (Table 3).

“To see if there was a lasting effect for the Reiki therapy, we looked at the difference from pre-Tx1 to post-Tx2. There was a decrease in mean scores for all variables but the only significant decrease was in heart rate for nonverbal children. The effect sizes for pain and anxiety for this time span were none or small for pain and small for anxiety.”

“Due to the bidirectional nature of the parent–child interaction, parental reactions may influence children’s symptoms, and the parental perception of the effect of Reiki therapy may influence the child’s experience and symptom response. 30"

“We looked for a cumulative treatment effect for the 2 Reiki therapy sessions but while there were decreases in all outcome variables there was no statistical evidence.”

“Overall, the results of this study are encouraging for the future study and use of Reiki therapy as an adjuvant for symptom management with children and adolescents. Further study of Reiki therapy with children receiving palliative care and other pediatric populations is worthwhile and necessary in order to provide scientific evidence of the benefit (or lack thereof) of Reiki therapy.”


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Comments:

As suggested in the above excerpts, there was no control for placebo effects.

As in several other papers I have commented on recently, there is no mention of the fact that Reiki is inconsistent with scientific knowledge and is rejected by mainstream medical science, and it is unfortunate that major universities and teaching hospitals are involved in this nonsense.