The Effect of Reiki on Anxiety, Stress and Comfort Levels

Anxiety and stress are problems which are often seen in patients about to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and taking them under control is important in calming the person and in reducing complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of reiki applied before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy on levels of anxiety, stress and comfort. This was a single-blind, randomized sham-controlled study. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were separated by randomization into three groups: reiki (n=53), sham reiki (n=53) and control (n=53). A total of 159 patients participated in the study. In the reiki group, reiki was applied once for approximately 20-25 minutes before gastrointestinal endoscopy. Collection of data was by a Patient Identification Form, the Visual Analog Scale for Stress, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the Short General Comfort Questionnaire.