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Table 2 Characteristics of selected articles

From: Reiki and related therapies in the dialysis ward: an evidence-based and ethical discussion to debate if these complementary and alternative medicines are welcomed or banned

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

  1. Legend: RCT Randomized Controlled Trial, VAS Visual Analogue Scale, NRS Numeric Rating Score, SF-36 questionnaire for health-related quality of life, MPAC Memorial Pain Assessment Card, FACT Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, TAS Tellegen Absorption Scale, HAT Health Attribution Test, MEDD Morphine-Equivalent Dosage, STAI State Trait Anxiety Inventory, RFS Rhoten Fatigue Scale.