Investigation of the Effect of Reiki on Pain, Fatigue, and Itching in Hemodialysis Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Introduction: The management of symptoms associated with hemodialysis, which adversely affect patients, increases their quality of life. Complementary integrative therapies such as Reiki are used in symptom management. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Reiki on pain, fatigue, and itching in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: The study had a randomized controlled design and was conducted in three dialysis centers with a total of 74 hemodialysis patients, 37 in the intervention group, and 37 in the control group. A total of 10 sessions of Reiki were administered to the patients in the intervention group twice a week for 5 weeks, while the patients in the control group received routine hemodialysis treatment. The data of the study were collected using the Patient Identification Form, the Patient Clinical Parameters Form, the Visual Analog Scale, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Piper Fatigue Scale, and the 5-D Itch Scale.

Findings: It was determined that there was a statistically significant decrease in the pain, fatigue, and itching levels of the patients in favor of the intervention group in the second and third measurements (p < 0.05). Although there was no change in the pain and fatigue levels of the patients in the control group, the levels of itching increased statistically and significantly (p < 0.05).

Discussion: The findings suggest that Reiki has an effect on pain, fatigue, and itching in hemodialysis patients.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05531175.