Author, year | Study design | Participants | Measurements | Treatment | Comparison | Outcomes | Results | Side effects | CASP score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
So, 2008 | Review | 24 studies (1153 participants) | VAS, NRS, McGill Pain Index, SF-36, analgesic usage, MPAC, FACT | Touch therapies(TT): Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch | Sham placebo or ’no treatment’ control | Pain (acute or chronic) | Statistically significant reduction of pain with different treatment, especially with Reiki (95% CI: -1.16 to −0.50) | Not evaluated | 7/10 |
McCormack, 2009 | RCT | n=90 elderly patients with post-surgical pain: n=30 non-contact therapeutic touch, n=30 metronome treatment, n=30 no treatment | VAS, MPAC,TAS,HAT,pupil size | Reiki | Routine care, placebo | Post-operative pain | Statistically significant reduction of pain in the Reiki group, worsening of pain in the metronome group (p<0.01) | Not reported | 7.5/10 |
MacIntyre, 2008 | RCT, not blinded | n= 290 patients (mean age 64) undergoing first time elective coronary artery bypass surgery n=237 at the end of the study | MEDD, STAI | Healing Touch | Visitors and no intervention | Post-operative pain, anxiety, physical and mental status, length of stay | Significant reduction of hospital stay and anxiety. No significant reduction of pain | Not reported | 7.5/10 |
Frank, 2007 | RCT, patients, data collection staff and data analyst blinded | n= 82 females undergoing Stereotactic Core Breast Biopsy: n=42 intervention, n=40 placebo | VAS | Therapeutic Touch (TT) | Sham Reiki | Post-biopsy pain, lidocaine/ epinephrine dosage | Increase of pain in both groups, not statistically significant | Increase of pain in both groups | 7.5/10 |
Assefi, 2008 | RCT, patients, data collection staff and data analyst blinded | n=100 adults with fibromyalgia (23 real direct Reiki: 24= real distant Reiki, 23= sham direct Reiki, 23=sham distant Reiki) | VAS | Reiki | Sham Reiki | Pain, fatigue, sleep quality, well-being | Neither Reiki nor touch improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia in all groups | Not reported | 7.5/10 |
Aghabati 2010 | RCT | n= 90 patients with cancer and normal level of consciousness, age 15–65: n=30 TT, n=30 placebo, n=30 control | VAS, RFS | Therapeutic Touch (TT) | Mimic therapeutic touch and no intervention | Pain, fatigue | Statistically significant decrease in pain and fatigue in TT vs placebo or control (p=0.04) | Excess energy and anxiety in both groups | 8/10 |