A Feasibility Study of Reiki Therapy to Improve Symptoms in Cancer Survivors at an Integrative Oncology Clinic.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of Reiki therapy for cancer survivors with moderate-to-severe symptom clusters. Adult patients with a neoplasm diagnosis, not currently undergoing active treatment, and reporting a fatigue score of ≥ 4 and two other symptoms were eligible to participate. The intervention was six 30-45-minute Reiki sessions within 6-8 weeks. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-9) was completed pre- and post-Reiki session. Quality of life (PROMIS-29) measures were completed at baseline and 8 weeks after the first Reiki session. As a pilot feasibility study, recruitment, retention, attendance, data completeness, and acceptability were the focus. Descriptive statistics were generated for ESAS and PROMIS data, but no hypothesis testing was done. Twenty-three patients were pre-screened and ten were eligible, enrolled in the study, and completed baseline measures. Nine signed up for Reiki and six of those participants completed the intervention and follow-up measures (67%). All participants were female and non-Hispanic, 70% were White, 20% were African American/Black, and 10% were multiracial. Participants attended an average of 5.5 Reiki sessions. Outcome data completeness was 100%. Numerical improvements in all symptom scores and quality of life domains after Reiki were observed. Participants were overall satisfied with the Reiki. This pilot study of Reiki for cancer survivors demonstrated satisfactory feasibility. Highly preliminary assessment of outcome measures revealed sensitivity to change following Reiki. This study provides support to proceed with more research; however, modifications are needed before conducting a fully powered randomized controlled trial.