What Was This Study About?

This study looked at whether Reiki, a type of energy healing, could help cancer patients when performed by their family caregivers at home. The researchers wanted to see if Reiki could reduce symptoms, improve well-being, and be easy to follow in a home setting.

How Was the Study Done?

• Who Participated?
  • 6 cancer patients and their family caregivers took part.
  • The patients had either lung or breast cancer and were dealing with cancer-related symptoms.
  • Caregivers were trained in Reiki and gave daily Reiki sessions for 3 weeks.
• What Was Measured?
  • Changes in cancer symptoms (like fatigue, nausea, pain).
  • Mental and emotional well-being of patients.
  • Satisfaction with Reiki (Did they like it? Would they recommend it?).
  • Any difficulties caregivers faced in providing Reiki.

What Were the Results?

• Cancer Symptoms Improved:
  • Patients felt less tired, had better moods, and had less nausea after the 3-week Reiki practice.
  • Some patients also reported less pain and better sleep.
  • However, some symptoms, like shortness of breath, did not change much.
• Emotional Well-Being Increased:
  • Patients felt more at peace, hopeful, and relaxed.
  • Reiki helped with reducing anxiety and stress for both patients and caregivers.
• Satisfaction with Reiki:
  • All caregivers and 83% of patients said they would recommend Reiki.
  • Most found it helpful, easy to do, and enjoyable.
• Challenges Faced:
  • Time commitment – Finding time daily for Reiki was sometimes hard.
  • Positioning issues – Some patients preferred lying down rather than sitting during sessions.
  • Distractions – Home environments sometimes made it harder to focus during Reiki.

What Did Caregivers Experience?

• Caregivers felt good providing Reiki and saw positive effects on their loved ones.
• Some felt calmer, more connected to their loved ones, and even had better sleep and less stress themselves.

Conclusion

• Reiki helped reduce some cancer symptoms and improved emotional well-being.
• Reiki was easy to learn and provided emotional benefits to both patients and caregivers.
• More studies with larger groups are needed to confirm its effectiveness.
• Reiki could be a useful tool for families supporting loved ones with cancer.

Original study reference:

Home-Based Reiki by Informal Caregivers

Yea-Jyh Chen, PhD, RN ■ Amy Petrinec, PhD, RN ■ Pamela S. Stephenson, PhD, RN

■ Rosanne M. Radziewicz, RN, PMHCNS-BC, RMT ■ Denice Sheehan, PhD, RN

HOLISTIC NURSING PRACTICE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023