The effect of acupressure or reiki interventions on the levels of pain and fatigue of cancer patients receiving palliative care: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Objective: Taking pain under control is important to calm the individual and reduce complications. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of Acupressure or Reiki interventions on the levels of pain and fatigue of stage III and IV cancer patients receiving palliative care.

Method: The research was a single-blind, repeated measures, randomized controlled study. Research data were collected between February and November 2022. The research sample consisted of Acupressure and Reiki intervention groups and a control group with 52 patients in each group for a total of 156 patients. Acupressure or Reiki was applied to their intervention groups for a total of eight sessions of 20 min each over four weeks, once a day on two days a week. Data were collected by means of a patient description form, an analgesic follow-up form, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and the Brief Fatigue Inventory.

Results: In comparison with the control group, a significant reduction was seen over time in the levels of pain (p < 0.001), analgesic use (p < 0.001), and fatigue (p < 0.001) in the Acupressure or Reiki intervention groups.

Conclusion: Acupressure or Reiki interventions were found to effective in reducing levels of pain, analgesic use, and fatigue. It was seen that in addition to their use in routine nursing care, both treatments can be accepted as effective nursing interventions that reduce pain and fatigue in stage III and IV cancer patients receiving palliative care.