Effects of Reiki With Music Compared to Music Only Among People Living With HIV

Abstract

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) often seek complementary treatments to improve their overall health and well-being. Reiki, an ancient healing practice, has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, pain, and depression. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Reiki as a complementary treatment for PLWH. Using a two-group mixed-methods experimental design, 37 participants were randomized to either a 6-week Reiki with Music Group or a Music Only Group. Self-reported and physiologic measures were obtained at baseline, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks. Significant improvements in relief of pain and stress in those receiving RMG were found. At the 6-week assessment, semi-structured interviews were conducted with all participants. Qualitative findings indicated that Reiki and music therapy helped reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Evidence-based data regarding the effectiveness of Reiki will help nurses help patients better manage HIV-related symptoms.

Effects of Listening to Live Singing in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Study

“…Music therapy is a recognized discipline linked to improved hemodynamics in patients with chronic illness (Raghavan & Eknoyan, 2014). In the past few years, nurse researchers have studied the effects of music with rigorous randomized controlled trials in several care settings such as surgical (Ugraş et al, 2018), critical care (Hetland et al, 2017), neonatology (Taheri, Jahromi, Abbasi, & Hojat, 2017), AIDS care (Bremner, Blake, Wagner, & Pearcey, 2016), and cardiology (Burrai, Hasan, Fancourt, Luppi, & Di Somma, 2016). In numerous studies involving patients receiving hemodialysis, music ameliorated a variety of complications including pain, cramps, and itching (Koca Kutlu & Eren, 2014).…”

Reiki therapy in the Unified Health System: meanings and experiences in integral health care

“…Several scientific studies show health benefits of Reiki therapy, such as: pain relief (6)(7)(8)(9) , the reduction of stress and anxiety (9)(10) , better coping with illness and therapeutic processes (11) , decreased blood pressure (9) , improvement of depressive symptoms (12) and sleep problems (13) . However, most of these studies have methodological designs that make little room for the expression of the centrality of the subject in the care process.…”

Safety of Reiki Therapy for Newborns at Risk for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

“…8 Complementary therapies, such as Reiki, have seldom been studied in newborns. Studies on Reiki in the adult population have shown a decrease in pain 9 – 11 and stress 10 , 11 without affecting vital signs. 9 – 11 However, little or no research has documented the feasibility and safety or the immediate results of such an intervention, on neonatal parameters.…”