Reiki Effects on Bone Marrow Transplant Patients

The aim of the study is to examine the effect of Reiki on fatigue, vital signs, and engraftment in bone marrow transplant patients.

Cancer is a serious and chronic disease, the number of which is increasing rapidly in our country and in the world. Today, cancer accounts for 70% of all disease diagnoses and it is estimated that the number of new cancer cases will rise to 22 million in about twenty years. Although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a promising treatment for remission and complete recovery in cancer patients, the symptoms after transplantation seriously affect the quality of life of individuals. In addition to psychosocial problems, patients experience serious physical problems such as suppression of the immune system and fatigue after transplantation. Energy therapies are widely used to provide general health and well-being and to reduce or relieve the symptoms of many chronic diseases. As a result of many studies on conditions such as fatigue, pain, and anxiety, it has been determined that Reiki energy has a positive effect. When we searched the literature, it was seen that there were not enough studies examining the fatigue, vital signs, and immune systems of bone marrow transplant patients. This randomized controlled prospective study is conducted with bone marrow transplant patients between August 2022 to February 2023. The data of the study will collect using "Personal Information Form (PIF)", "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)", and "National Cancer Institute (NCI) -Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)". Also, vital signs and laboratory findings will be recorded. PIF, VAS, and CTCAE will be applied to the patients who meet the inclusion criteria. Patients will be randomized 1:1 into groups to the block randomization method. There are two arms in the study; Reiki (n=21) and control group (n=21). A second-degree Reiki practitioner will apply Reiki to the patients for 30 minutes. on the second day and the third day, 30 minutes distance Reiki will be applied to the patients. In the control group, nothing will be done. Post-tests will be applied to all patients after one week and vital signs and laboratory findings will be recorded.