The Effect of Reiki on Anxiety, Fear, Pain, and Oxygen Saturation in Abdominal Surgery Patients; A Randomized Controlled Trial

A surgical intervention decision may cause anxiety in individuals regardless of the type of surgical procedure. Fear of anesthesia, fear of death, the possibility of post-surgical complications, pain, changes in activities of daily living, disconnection from social life, and loss of control may cause anxiety.1 The complex and unusual nature of operating rooms is another factor that causes anxiety and fear in patients.2 The pathophysiological response caused by anxiety is explained by the activation of the autonomic nervous system, which causes different neuroendocrine changes in the body. This process causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and myocardial load. The leading cause of surgical fear associated with the post-surgical process is the pain to be experienced/experienced after surgery.3 The type and site of surgery affect pain in the post-surgical period.4 Abdominal surgery is one of the surgeries in which pain is felt severely because the incision is close to the diaphragm and there is a dense nerve network in the abdominal area.5 Physiological responses of the body to pain include a 15% increase/decrease in heart rate and blood pressure than normal, increase/decrease in respiratory rate and oxygen saturation, dilation of pupils, nausea, vomiting, fever, muscle tension, and spasm.6 In addition, if the patient's postoperative pain is not controlled, it may cause problems in many systems such as the pulmonary, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and immune systems, since it will restrict the patient's mobility.5 At the same time, acute postoperative pain can lead to an overdose of analgesics, related side effects, prolongation of the recovery period and return to work, increased treatment costs, and reduced quality of life.7

Non-pharmacological methods are independent nursing interventions that can be easily applied with or without analgesics, reduce pain and anxiety, have no side effects, can be used when needed, can be easily taught to patients, and do not impose an economic burden and whose effects can be observed immediately.8 Nurses are in one-to-one communication with patients and know their past pain experiences and methods of coping, and this imposes great responsibilities on nurses in pain control. Nurses who plan diagnosis and care using pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods in pain control play an active role in the evaluation of the results.9 Non-pharmacological methods frequently used in surgical pain control include relaxation techniques, distraction, music, daydreaming, informing, massage, positioning, restriction of movement, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, therapeutic touch, hot-cold application, menthol application to the skin, and vibration.8,10 Non-pharmacological methods affect pain control by providing natural morphine and endorphin release in the body.10 Reiki, which is one of these methods, is a technique of channeling universal energy to reduce stress and increase health and well-being, and this energy is classified as healing therapy.11, 12, 13 Rebalancing one's energy with Reiki can initiate the relaxation response. This, in turn initiates a series of physiological responses that help regulate the immune system and promote healing.12, 13, 14, 15

Research into Reiki shows that Reiki treatments, which are non-pharmacological methods, help reduce the negative side effects of chemotherapy, improve surgical results, regulate and significantly change the autonomic nervous system.16 and provide early discharge by reducing post-surgical complications.17 With proper education, Reiki can be easily integrated into traditional therapy in the acute care setting. It is performed by using light touch or hands kept close to the recipient's body. Channeling the universal energy through Reiki can be realized one-on-one or it can be sent to a specific time, an event, or a person in mind.18 The biggest advantage of Reiki is that it has no side effects, no negative effects on behavior, and it is an easily applicable, effective, reliable, and inexpensive method.19

When the literature on this subject was examined, no study in which the effects of Reiki on many variables (anxiety, surgical fear, pain, and oxygen saturation) were examined together in a major intervention such as abdominal surgery was found. In this respect, it is thought that the results of our study will make an important contribution to the literature. Reflecting on this fact, this study was conducted to examine the effect of Reiki on pain, anxiety, surgical fear, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) in patients undergoing open abdominal surgery (OAS).

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