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Reiki intervention for supporting healthcare professional care behaviors in pediatric palliative care: A pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2023

Giulia Zucchetti Open the ORCID record for Giulia Zucchetti [Opens in a new window] ,
Sabrina Ciappina ,
Cristina Bottigelli ,
Gabriela Campione ,
Annalisa Parrinello ,
Paola Piu ,
Stefano Lijoi ,
Paola Quarello  and
Franca Fagioli
Giulia Zucchetti*
Affiliation:
Pediatric Oncohematology Unit, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy
Sabrina Ciappina
Affiliation:
Pediatric Oncohematology Unit, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy
Cristina Bottigelli
Affiliation:
Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy
Gabriela Campione
Affiliation:
Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy
Annalisa Parrinello
Affiliation:
Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy
Paola Piu
Affiliation:
Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy
Stefano Lijoi
Affiliation:
Pediatric Oncohematology Unit, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy
Paola Quarello
Affiliation:
Pediatric Oncohematology Unit, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy University of Turin, Italy
Franca Fagioli
Affiliation:
Pediatric Oncohematology Unit, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Turin, Italy University of Turin, Italy
*
Corresponding author: Giulia Zucchetti; Email: giulia.zucchetti@unito.it
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Abstract

Objectives

Pediatric healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in a palliative setting may experience challenges during their clinical practice in addressing the complex end-of-life phase of children and their families. Nurses, especially, have a frontline role in providing assistance, thereby becoming at risk of physical and psychological burden. Pediatric psychologists have an ethical responsibility to help colleagues by proposing self-care interventions that will improve their well-being and, indirectly, the work climate. This study investigated the impact of a complementary therapy, delivered by a pediatric psychologist and a nurse, on physical and psychological variables among nurses at the Paediatric Hospice of the Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital in Italy.

Methods

Thirty-five nurses participated in 5 weeks of Reiki sessions for an overall total of 175 sessions. The effect of the sessions was analyzed through a paired t-test analysis comparing the values of heart rate, oxygen saturation, and systolic and diastolic pressure collected before and after each session. The same test was conducted comparing the values of the 3 burnout subscales for each of the 35 nurses collected before the beginning of the first session with those collected at the end of the last session 2 months later.

Results

Results underlined a positive short-term effect with a significant decrease in heart rate before and after each session (t = 11.5, p < .001) and in systolic pressure (t = 2, p < .05). In addition, a decrease in emotional exhaustion symptoms was found (t = 2.3, p < .05) at the end of the intervention.

Significance of results

Reiki could be a valid strategy to complement traditional pediatric psychology clinical practice designed to protect HCPs from emotional and physical demands and to create a more supportive workplace for staff and patients alike.

Keywords

Pediatric psychologistburnout symptomscomplementary and alternative practicehealthcare providerspediatric palliative care
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , June 2024 , pp. 493 - 498
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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