Touch Interventions Beneficial for Physical and Mental Health.

According to this study.

Therapeutic effects of Reiki on interventions for anxiety: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of Reiki therapy in alleviating anxiety. METHODS: In adherence to academic standards, a thorough search was conducted across esteemed databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library. The primary objective of this search was to pinpoint peer-reviewed articles published in English that satisfied specific criteria: (1) employing an experimental or quasi-experimental study design, (2) incorporating Reiki therapy as the independent variable, (3) encompassing diverse patient populations along with healthy individuals, and (4) assessing anxiety as the measured outcome. RESULTS: The study involved 824 participants, all of whom were aged 18 years or older. Reiki therapy was found to have a significant effect on anxiety intervention(SMD=-0.82, 95CI -1.29∼-0.36, P = 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that the types of subjects (chronically ill individuals and the general adult population) and the dosage/frequency of the intervention (≤ 3 sessions and 6-8 sessions) were significant factors influencing the variability in anxiety reduction. CONCLUSION: Short-term Reiki therapy interventions of ≤ 3 sessions and 6-8 sessions have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing health and procedural anxiety in patients with chronic conditions such as gastrointestinal endoscopy inflammation, fibromyalgia, and depression, as well as in the general population. It is important to note that the efficacy of Reiki therapy in decreasing preoperative anxiety and death-related anxiety in preoperative patients and cancer patients is somewhat less consistent. These discrepancies may be attributed to individual pathophysiological states, psychological conditions, and treatment expectations.

A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions.

Receiving touch is of critical importance, as many studies have shown that touch promotes mental and physical well-being. We conducted a pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42022304281) systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis encompassing 137 studies in the meta-analysis and 75 additional studies in the systematic review (n = 12,966 individuals, search via Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science until 1 October 2022) to identify critical factors moderating touch intervention efficacy. Included studies always featured a touch versus no touch control intervention with diverse health outcomes as dependent variables. Risk of bias was assessed via small study, randomization, sequencing, performance and attrition bias. Touch interventions were especially effective in regulating cortisol levels (Hedges' g = 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 1.31) and increasing weight (0.65, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.94) in newborns as well as in reducing pain (0.69, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.89), feelings of depression (0.59, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.78) and state (0.64, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.84) or trait anxiety (0.59, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.77) for adults. Comparing touch interventions involving objects or robots resulted in similar physical (0.56, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.88 versus 0.51, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.64) but lower mental health benefits (0.34, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.49 versus 0.58, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.73). Adult clinical cohorts profited more strongly in mental health domains compared with healthy individuals (0.63, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.80 versus 0.37, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.55). We found no difference in health benefits in adults when comparing touch applied by a familiar person or a health care professional (0.51, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.73 versus 0.50, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.61), but parental touch was more beneficial in newborns (0.69, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.88 versus 0.39, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.61). Small but significant small study bias and the impossibility to blind experimental conditions need to be considered. Leveraging factors that influence touch intervention efficacy will help maximize the benefits of future interventions and focus research in this field.

Reiki intervention for supporting healthcare professional care behaviors in pediatric palliative care: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Pediatric healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in a palliative setting may experience challenges during their clinical practice in addressing the complex end-of-life phase of children and their families. Nurses, especially, have a frontline role in providing assistance, thereby becoming at risk of physical and psychological burden. Pediatric psychologists have an ethical responsibility to help colleagues by proposing self-care interventions that will improve their well-being and, indirectly, the work climate. This study investigated the impact of a complementary therapy, delivered by a pediatric psychologist and a nurse, on physical and psychological variables among nurses at the Paediatric Hospice of the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital in Italy. METHODS: Thirty-five nurses participated in 5 weeks of Reiki sessions for an overall total of 175 sessions. The effect of the sessions was analyzed through a paired t-test analysis comparing the values of heart rate, oxygen saturation, and systolic and diastolic pressure collected before and after each session. The same test was conducted comparing the values of the 3 burnout subscales for each of the 35 nurses collected before the beginning of the first session with those collected at the end of the last session 2 months later. RESULTS: Results underlined a positive short-term effect with a significant decrease in heart rate before and after each session (t = 11.5, p < .001) and in systolic pressure (t = 2, p < .05). In addition, a decrease in emotional exhaustion symptoms was found (t = 2.3, p < .05) at the end of the intervention. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Reiki could be a valid strategy to complement traditional pediatric psychology clinical practice designed to protect HCPs from emotional and physical demands and to create a more supportive workplace for staff and patients alike.

The Effect of Reiki and Aromatherapy on Vital Signs, Oxygen Saturation, and Anxiety Level in Patients Undergoing Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Study.

This randomized controlled study aimed to determine the effect of Reiki and aromatherapy on vital signs, oxygen saturation, and anxiety level in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The sample consisted of 100 patients divided into Reiki (n = 34), aromatherapy (n = 33), and control (n = 33) groups. Data were collected 3 times (before, during, and after the procedure) using a descriptive characteristics questionnaire, a follow-up form, and the State Anxiety Subscale. The Reiki group had a mean State Anxiety Subscale score of 53.59 ± 2.98 and 43.94 ± 4.31 before and after the procedure, respectively. The aromatherapy group had a mean State Anxiety Subscale score of 54.03 ± 4.03 and 43.85 ± 3.91 before and after the procedure, respectively. The control group had a mean State Anxiety Subscale score of 38.79 ± 4.68 and 53.30 ± 7.26 before and after the procedure, respectively (P < .05). The results showed that the Reiki and aromatherapy groups had significantly lower State Anxiety Subscale scores than the control group after the procedure, indicating that Reiki and aromatherapy help reduce anxiety levels. There was a significant difference in the mean respiratory rates and oxygen saturation levels between the groups (P < .05). In conclusion, patients who do Reiki or undergo aromatherapy are less likely to experience anxiety before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

The Effect of Reiki on Pain Applied to Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Pain, the most common and major source of fear in patients with cancer, reduces the quality of life. This systematic review was conducted to determine the effect of Reiki on pain applied to patients with cancer. The creation of a systematic review protocol and the writing of the article were based on the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) criteria. The literature review was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Seven experimental and quasi-experimental studies met the inclusion criteria, and a total of 572 patients with cancer with sample sizes ranging from 18 to 180 were included. In-person Reiki was applied in 6 of the studies included in the systematic review, while in one of them, distance Reiki was applied. Although Reiki was found to reduce pain in 5 studies included in the review, it was determined that it was not effective on pain in 2 studies. A limited number of studies show that Reiki applied to patients with cancer has a positive effect on pain. It is recommended to conduct more randomized controlled trials with a high methodological quality that examine the effectiveness of Reiki application for patients with cancer.

Evaluation of the Impacts of Reiki Touch Therapy on Patients Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia Who Are Followed in the Pain Clinic.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Reiki application on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. The study was completed with a total of 50 patients: 25 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group. Reiki was applied to the experimental group and sham Reiki to the control group once a week for 4 weeks. Data were collected from the participants using the Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Short Form-36. There was a significant difference between the mean Visual Analog Scale pain scores during and before the first week (P = .012), second week (P = .002), and fourth week (P = .020) measurements of the individuals in the experimental and control groups, after application. In addition, at the end of the 4-week period, the State Anxiety Inventory (P = .005) and the Trait Anxiety Inventory (P = .003) were significantly decreased in the Reiki group compared with the control group. Physical function (P = .000), energy (P = .009), mental health (P = .018), and pain (P = .029) subdimension scores of quality of life in the Reiki group increased significantly compared with the control group. Reiki application to patients with fibromyalgia may have positive effects on reducing pain, improving quality of life, and reducing state and trait anxiety levels.

The effect of Reiki on fatigue and comfort in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective, single-blind, randomized parallel controlled study was conducted to determine the effects of distant Reiki on the fatigue and comfort levels of patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment. METHODS: The study was conducted in a private dialysis center located in one of the metropolises of Turkey between October 2020 and September 2021. Sixty-two patients receiving HD treatment were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 31) and control (n = 31) groups. Distant Reiki was administered to the patients in the intervention group three times a week for four weeks. Distant Reiki sessions were held the night before the patient's hemodialysis day and lasted approximately 36-40 min. The patients in the control group were administered routine treatment under the institutional policy without any further intervention. Data were collected using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ). Measurements were performed before Reiki was applied, after Reiki was applied (the first day after the 12th session), and four weeks after the last measurement in order to assess whether Reiki has a long-term effect. The data obtained were assessed using Shapiro Wilk, Repeated Measures, Student's t, Pearson chi-square, Likelihood Ratio chi-square, and Fisher Exact chi-square tests. RESULTS: The patients in the intervention and control groups were statistically similar in terms of their descriptive characteristics (p>0.05). The intervention group's fatigue score decreased from 5.42 (SD=1.20) to 3.44 (SD=1.00) immediately after the intervention and 3.21 (SD=0.86) four weeks after the intervention. In the control group, these values were 4.50 (SD=1.29), 4.70 (SD=1.22), and 4.65 (SD=1.02), respectively (p<0.05). The general comfort total score of the intervention group increased from 2.86 (SD=0.30) to 3.03 (SD=0.20) immediately after the intervention and 2.98 (SD=0.22) four weeks after the intervention. In the control group, these values were 2.71 (SD=0.33), 2.63 (SD=0.23), and 2.59 (SD=0.30), respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This research has shown that distant Reiki, as one of the non-pharmacological methods, positively affects the fatigue severity and comfort level of patients receiving HD treatment.

Effect of Reiki Therapy on Blood Pressure and Alcohol Consumption in Young Adults: A Clinical Trial.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes Reiki therapy as a form of therapy within the classification of alternative therapies. Recently, a growing interest regarding the implementation of Reiki therapy in patient care relating to the field of nursing has been detected; however, there are few scientifically rigorous studies that support this. Objective: To determine the effect of Reiki therapy on blood pressure (BP) and alcohol consumption in young adults with hypertension, in two urban communities in northern of Mexico. Methodology: A randomized and controlled clinical trial, with an equivalent experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). Longitudinal design of repeated parallel measurements and triple-blind masking. Results: The averages of the Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) of EG. vs. CG in the test vs. retest were: 109.91 ± 2.3 vs. 111.19 ± 3.3 (P = .140) and retest: 97.00 ± 4.9 vs. 110.94 ± 2.9 (P = .001). In alcohol consumption at test: 11.00 ± 2.9 vs. 11.54 ± 2.8 (P = .527) and at retest: 8.83 ± 1.02 vs. 11.83 ± 1.92 (P = .001). In the ANOVA analysis for the EG, the MAP decrease between measurements 1 and 2; and 1 and 3 (P = .001). Regarding alcohol consumption, there was no difference between measurements 1 and 2 nor in measurements 2 and 3. There was only a significant difference between measurements 1 and 3 (P = .015). Conclusion: The results obtained confirmed our hypothesis of the research, since the EG had a significant effect on the decrease of the MAP and alcohol consumption after 21 sessions of Reiki therapy intervention.

Stress and Anxiety Reduction Effects of a Reiki Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Employees in Lima, Peru.

Evidence has been found of how the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased stress and anxiety indicators. Against this background, the present research aims to determine the effect of a distance Reiki intervention program on stress and anxiety during the period of isolation due to COVID-19 among people working in the city of Lima, Peru. The related hypothesis was that distance Reiki would generate a reduction in stress and anxiety levels. It was a quasiexperimental design with pre- and posttests, with nonprobabilistic purposive sampling. In total, 28 employees participated (12 in the experimental group and 16 in the control group). As part of the method, the following instruments were used: the EPGE, IDARE, and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). There was a large decrease in the distress parameter (Cohen's d = 1.006), as well as in the state anxiety parameter (d = 1.678) and a large increase in eustress (d = 0.921). Similarly, there was an overall reduction in the trait anxiety parameter (d = 0.373) in all cases as compared with the control group. Coronavirus anxiety showed no major impact. These results provide initial evidence on the effects of distance Reiki among Peruvians and provide the basis for promoting this cost-effective therapy, generating a practical and social contribution.

Reiki Therapy for Very Young Hospitalized Children Receiving Palliative Care.

Background: Approximately half of children receiving palliative care are under age five; however, there are a few studies exploring palliative care interventions for this population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Reiki on pain, stress, heart, and respiratory rates, oxygenation, and quality of life (QoL) in hospitalized young children receiving palliative care services. Methods: In this single-group pilot study, hospitalized children receiving palliative care who were aged 1-5 years received two Reiki sessions per week for 3 weeks. Physiologic measures were assessed pre/post each session, and parent report measures of pain and QOL were collected at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. The parent rating of Reiki's perceived efficacy and their own symptoms were also measured. Results: Sixteen families consented. Children had a mean age of 26 months and included nine boys and seven girls. Results were not significant but there were medium-to-large clinical effect sizes for children's QoL, stress, oxygenation, heart, and respiratory rates. Parents' physical and mental health scores decreased over time. Children exhibited signs of relaxation such as quiet sleep post-Reiki versus active awake pre-Reiki session. Conclusion: Reiki is a noninvasive relaxing therapy that is useful for hospitalized young children receiving palliative care. The children reacted positively in both action and outcome measures. Multisite studies with larger sample sizes are needed to be able to generate enough scientific evidence to fully recommend Reiki as an adjunct for pain management.

Therapeutic Touch in the Management of Responsive Behaviors in Patients with Dementia.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the use of therapeutic touch (TT) in the management of responsive behaviors in patients with dementia. METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded control trial was used to compare response to TT in a population with responsive behaviors in dementia, in 3 phases, pretreatment, treatment, and posttreatment each lasting 5 days. The participants were divided into three groups: experimental, placebo, and control. The experimental group received regular TT, the placebo group received mimic TT, and the control group received regular routine care. Behavior was observed and recorded by trained research assistants every 20 min during the study time throughout each of the phases. Modified Agitated Behavior Rating Scale (ABRS) and Revised Memory and Behavior Check (RMBC) scores were used to assess the behavioral symptoms of dementia throughout the study. RESULTS: All groups had decreasing RMBC scores during the pretreatment period, however; the experimental TT group was the only group whose RMBC scores continued to decrease during the treatment period. All groups had a similar pattern of rates of change in ABRS scores over the 15-day period, with no differential pattern of results related to experimental TT. CONCLUSION: Despite limited evidence, TT should be explored as an adjunctive therapy for reducing behavioral symptoms in individuals with dementia. Further research is needed to determine the effects of TT on responsive behaviors in dementia. There is a need for studies with larger sample sizes, equal distribution of participants between groups (in terms of dementia stages), and longer post study follow-ups.

A study of Reiki therapy on unpleasant symptoms in children with cerebral palsy.

Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) commonly experience unpleasant symptoms such as pain, anger, and sadness. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study, guided by the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms (TOUS), was to examine the practicality and impact of delivering Reiki Therapy (RT) in homes over an 8-week intervention phase to children with CP. Thirteen pediatric participants were recruited, ranging in age from 5 to 16 years. Reiki Therapy was administered by a Level 3 Reiki Therapist in the home for 8 consecutive weeks. Parents completed on-line questionnaires addressing their children's unpleasant symptoms. Hair cortisol was measured as an indicator of stress. Nearly all study procedures were completed by the participants, indicating that the methods are feasible for a larger study. Reiki Therapy significantly decreased pain while lying down (3.09 vs. 2.00; p = .002) but not while sitting (2.55 vs. 2.09; p = .40). Anger symptoms showed a trend towards improvement in the participants. These preliminary findings demonstrate that Reiki is a therapeutic modality worthy of further investigation in the CP pediatric population.

The effects of Reiki and back massage on women's pain and vital signs post-abdominal hysterectomy: A randomized controlled trial: The Effects of Reiki and Back Massage on Women's Pain and Vital Signs.

BACKGROUND: Using Reiki and back massage to support pharmacological treatments is increasingly common in nursing. This study aimed to determine the effects of Reiki and back massage on pain, analgesic use, and vital signs among women who had undergone an open abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS: This experimental study involved a single, blinded, pretest-posttest design. The study population comprised women who had undergone an abdominal hysterectomy at the obstetrics clinics of Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital and Dicle University Hospital between July 2017 and February 2018. Patients were divided into three groups: a Reiki group, a back massage group, and a control group. Each group comprised 34 patients. Reiki or back massage was applied to patients in the respective non-control groups for 20 min once a day. Data were collected using a patient information form, the "Numeric Pain Rating Scale," and the "Vital Signs and Postoperative Analgesic Follow-up Form." RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in pain intensity and analgesic use were observed between the women in the Reiki group and the women in the back massage and control groups (p < 0.001). Significant differences in vital signs were observed between the groups before and after their respective procedures; in the Reiki group, they tended to decrease, while in the back massage and control groups, they tended to increase. CONCLUSION: This study's findings confirmed that pain, analgesic use, and vital signs decreased after Reiki among women who had undergone an abdominal hysterectomy.

Effects of Reiki on Mental Health Care: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to identify the benefits of Reiki in mental health care. Eleven studies were included. Although the number of studies is limited, the results contribute to the potential beneficial role of Reiki in mental health care. Persistent studies using Reiki with broad samples, consistent randomized controlled trials, and patterned protocols are recommended.

No efficacy of biofield therapy in the treatment of warts of the hands and feet in adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Although biofield therapy is unexplained by scientific evidence, it has been practised for many years in numerous cultures for a variety of medical conditions. This study aimed to determine whether one session of biofield therapy with an experienced practitioner could treat warts on the hands and feet in adults. A single-blind, assessor-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial was performed between April 2016 and November 2018. The enrolled participants had at least one wart on the hand or foot that had been present for at least 90 days and they were not using any other therapy for the wart. The primary outcome of this trial was the disappearance of the original wart 3 weeks after session of proximal nontouch biofield therapy vs. a sham session. No original wart had disappeared 3 weeks after intervention (0/64), which made the study impossible to conclude on the primary objective. There were no significant differences between the two groups concerning wart disappearance 3 weeks (P = 0.49) or 6 weeks (P = 0.40) after the intervention. Reduction in wart size at Week 3 tended towards a better result for biofield therapy but this was not significant (P = 0.27). No related adverse effects were observed. The major limitation of this trial was the short follow-up time for measurement of clinical outcome, which did not allow verification of the hypothesis. However, this study shows that 3 weeks after a session of proximal nontouch biofield therapy is an insufficient length of time to assess biofield therapy in comparison with a sham session. Based on this study, biofield therapy cannot be recommended to treat warts within 3 weeks.

Examining the impact of a Healing Touch intervention to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in combat veterans.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the use of Healing Touch (HT), a biofield therapy, as an intervention in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It exemplifies the upswing of biofield (energy field) therapies that have been taking place recently for a number of clinical conditions, including cancer, pain, arthritis, movement restriction, and energy psychology. Theoretically, the human body is the physical aspect of an individualized field of energy (biofield) in which electrical activity functions as a complex, organized whole or system. Hypothetically, this system plays a critical role in the effective treatment of PTSD. Trauma-induced congested energy in vital areas of the human body, particularly the chakras and the funnel-shaped crown-to-transpersonal channel, impedes the natural release of unwanted energy of emotions, thereby becoming a major obstacle to treatment. This qualitative and quantitative study examined the use of HT as an effective intervention to break up and clear away congested energy, promote a strong energy flow, and allow the natural release of unwanted energy of emotions to normalize. The test group would average a mean reduction of symptom severity of at least 18 points after 10 treatments, as measured by the psychometrically sound self report measure of PTSD symptom severity for military use. METHOD: In a 2-armed randomized crossover waitlist controlled trial, combat veterans experienced the impact of HT techniques complementing standard care on the severity of their PTSD symptoms. RESULTS: The test group's mean reduction of symptom severity was a clinically significant 18.11 points, along with a reliable change of 5.57 points for the control group. Overall, subjects reported a range of positive physical and psychological effects. CONCLUSION: Although continued research using larger samples is needed, it may be concluded that HT is a low-risk, low-cost intervention for PTSD that should be implemented as a treatment option, especially in combination with "gold-standard" therapies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Webpalestra: Do-In: prevenção e tratamento na APS pela automassagem oriental

Descrição: Conceituar o que é o Do in, seus fundamentos teóricos e práticos. Como aplicar na APS. Pontos principais para a prevenção e tratamento de agravos frequentes nas Unidades de Saúde. Palestrante: Ana Rita Vieira de Novaes – Medicina, Mestre em Saúde Coletiva, especialista em Homeopatia, Acupuntura, Pediatria e Medicina Geral Comunitária. Webpalestra gravada em: 26/01/2017

Webpalestra COVID-19 (Coronavírus): Práticas Integrativas e a pandemia. Como o Reiki pode ajudar?

Assista mais vídeos sobre COVID-19 no link abaixo: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... Assista mais vídeos sobre Práticas Integrativas e Complementares no link abaixo: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... Acesse os slides das nossas palestras na Biblioteca Virtual do Telessaúde ES! Confira a data da exibição e encontre o material desejado. Faça download e tenha o material preparado pelos nossos palestrantes. https://telessaude.ifes.edu.br/biblio...