The Effects of Reiki on Total Knee Surgery

Notte, Barbara Byrne

Tuesday, 23 July 2013: 10:45 AM

Barbara Byrne Notte, RN, BSN, HN-BC
Pre-Operative Assessment, Main Line Health System, Bryn Mawr, PA
Ruth A. Mooney, RN-BC, MN, PhD
Nursing Professional Excellence, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE
Carol Fazzini, RN, C
Telemetry Floor 4C, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, PA

Learning Objective 1: The learner will have an understanding of how Reiki therapy can reduce post operative pain of Total Knee Replacement patients.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will become familiar with the process of conducting research using Reiki therapy in a community based hospital

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of Reiki therapy on total knee replacement patients’ pain perception and satisfaction with Reiki therapy.

Methods: Forty-four subjects scheduled for total knee replacement were randomized into Reiki (23) and non-Reiki (21) groups. Pain was assessed before and after Reiki therapy in the pre-operative area, PACU, and three postoperative days. A survey was distributed the day of discharge to measure satisfaction with Reiki. Data related to pain analgesia used was collected for all subjects.

Results: Using t-tests to compare pain ratings pre and post Reiki, statistically significant reductions were found in all but PACU (pre op, p = 0.03; each post operative day, p< .001; PACU, p=.53). No statistically significant differences were found for pain medication use. Subjects receiving Reiki responded positively to surveys about their experience with Reiki; 16 (76%) agreed that Reiki helped with pain relief and 5 were unsure; 20 (95%) indicated they would recommend Reiki to others while 1 was unsure.

Conclusion: Reiki may be an effective and well-accepted component in the

management of acute pain in the surgical patient.

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