The effect of reiki in the management of symptoms of people in palliative oncology care

INTRODUCTION: Reiki is a modality of Integrative and Complementary Practices (PICs), recognized and incorporated into the procedures table of the Unified Health System (SUS). OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the effects of Reiki in the relief of symptoms of people with advanced cancer, by conducting a pilot study to verify the methodological procedures of the research. METHODOLOGY: This is a randomized pilot study, with 14 participants, randomly divided into 2 groups - Control and Reiki - with 7 participants in each, selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria previously established. For data collection, an anamnesis was performed, blood pressure was measured, heart rate, saliva was collected to check the cortisol level; the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scales; Reiki was applied for 21 minutes each day for participants in the Reiki group. The scales were reapplied 30 minutes after the end of Reiki, as well as the collection of salivary cortisol was repeated. RESULTS: The Mann-Whitney U test showed a statistically significant difference (p <0.007) for the sleep variable when comparing the groups, showing an improvement for the Reiki group when compared to the Control group. The methodology applied in this pilot study proved to be pertinent and adequate and will allow to evaluate the effects of Reiki on the symptoms of people with advanced cancer. CONCLUSION: Although the sample was small, which is a limitation of this study, the results have already signaled that the application of Reiki improved the sleep of the participants when compared to the control group. The continuity of this study, with a larger number of participants, will allow the verification of the effects of Reiki in a more statistically significant way.