The Effect of Acupressure and Reiki on Pain and Fatigue Levels

The Effect of Acupressure and Reiki on Pain and Fatigue Levels in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care

This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of levels of pain and fatigue of acupressure and Reiki application on cancer patients receiving palliative care. The research was a single-blind, repeated measures, randomized controlled study. Research data were collected between February and July 2022. The research sample consisted of acupressure and Reiki application groups and a control group with 52 patients in each group, a total of 156 patients. Data was collected by means of a Patient Description Form, an Analgesic Follow-up Form, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and the Brief Fatigue Inventory.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. having a diagnosis of third or fourth-stage cancer,
2. being aged 18 years or older,
3. having had pain for at least one month in connection with cancer treatment or the symptoms of the disease,
4. using NSAII or non-opioid analgesics,
5. having a status of 3 or more on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS),
6. having a score of 0-3 on the ECOG-PS scale

Exclusion Criteria:

1. having a diagnosis of first or second-stage cancer,
2. being aged less than 18 years,
3. having bone or brain metastasis,
4. using opioid analgesics,
5. having a status of less than 3 on the NPRS,
6. having a status of between 4 and 5 on the ECOG-PS scale