Reiki practice and the quality of life of diabetic pregnant women

ISRCTN ISRCTN69018802
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN69018802
Secondary identifying numbers CAAE 52734216.1.0000.5411
Submission date
01/08/2021
Registration date
02/08/2021
Last edited
12/04/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Women may get a type of diabetes that only happens in pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes. Pregnancy can change how a woman's body uses glucose. This can make diabetes worse, or lead to gestational diabetes.
Reiki, a non-drug treatment used on people suffering from anxiety, depression, or both, appears to be an intriguing approach to treating the psychological impact of a woman's response to a diagnosis of gestational diabetes. However, randomized controlled trials comparing various Reiki strategies are required. The purpose of this trial is to analyse if the therapeutic modality of laying on of hands (Reiki) delivered by a trained Reiki practitioner, either face-to-face or remotely, was more effective than Sham-Reiki in controlling anxiety and depression in pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

Who can participate?
Pregnant women with hyperglycaemia.

What does the study involve?
The participants were randomized to Face-to-Face Reiki, Remote Reiki, or Sham-Reiki. Changes in the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire, Beck depression inventory and Beck State-Trait anxiety surveys were the primary outcomes after 7 full Reiki sessions by applying standardized and validated surveys in Portuguese.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits are related to the improvement of quality of life as well as lowering the levels of depression and anxiety, in addition to have a holistic approach throughout prenatal care. There are no risks involved, since the Sham group continued to receive the medical and nursing care as all the groups. The only difference is that two groups received genuine Reiki while the other not.

Where is the study run from?
Botuctu Medical School (Brazil)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2016 to March 2019

Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded

Who is the main contact?
Guilherme Ferraz, guilhermerago@hotmail.com

Contact information

Mr Guilherme Ferraz
Scientific

2902 Universitária Avenue
Altos do Paraíso
Botucatu
18610034
Brazil

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0001-6596-8782
Phone +55 14 981746951
Email guilherme.rago@unesp.br

Study information

Study designDouble-blinded randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet.
Scientific titleReiki practice and the quality of life of diabetic pregnant women: a randomized clinical trial
Study objectivesThe aim of this study was to determine whether the therapeutic modality of laying on of hands (Reiki) may enhance the quality of life, as well as reducing depression and anxiety levels in hyperglycaemic pregnant women
Ethics approval(s)Approved 07/03/2016, Institutional Research Bureau of Botucatu Medical School, UNESP (Chacára Butignoli s/n, Rubião Júnior. Botucatu, State of São Paulo, 18618-970, Brazil; +55 14 3880-1609; cep.fmb@unesp.br), ref: CAAE 52734216.1.0000.5411
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedDepression and anxiety levels in hyperglycaemic pregnant women
InterventionPatients were allocated at random by the chief nurse into one of the three groups Sham, Face-to-Face or Remote Reiki at PDRC/HC FMB. Randomization was carried out by the Research Support Office (EAP) of FMB/UNESP using verified software, which is available on the website www.randomization.com.

The participants and those evaluating the outcomes were all blinded. The control or intervention groups were only known to the Reiki therapist and Reiki simulation researchers.

The Face-to-Face intervention group had 7 sessions throughout prenatal care. The lead researcher is a licensed Reiki Master and has expertise with Reiki Therapy and has personally carried out the sessions with the approval of the pregnant person by a free explanation of permission and signed informed consent form. Reiki treatments were arranged on the same day as the pregnant woman's outpatient appointment, lasting 30 minutes each.

The Remote intervention group also had 7 sessions, which were also carried by the lead author. The remote treatments were planned on the same day that the pregnant woman returned for her outpatient visit, but without her presence, and lasted 30 minutes each session.

In the control group, participants received a simulation of laying on of hands, the hands' position used in the simulation was the same as the intervention group. This placebo was carried out by another research member who had been trained to imitate the session using the identical touch motions as the intervention group but had neither previous knowledge of Reiki nor competence. In the end, Sham Reiki replicated the identical technique as Face-to-Face Reiki therapy; however, only the researchers who used genuine and sham Reiki knew, and the patients had no idea who was in the control or intervention groups.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureMeasured at baseline and after 7 sessions:
1. Quality of life measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire
2. Depression measured using the Beck depression inventory
3. Anxiety measured using the Beck State-Trait anxiety survey questionnaire
Secondary outcome measuresGlycaemic profile measured by blood tests taken throughout pregnancy
Overall study start date07/03/2016
Completion date20/03/2019

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexFemale
Target number of participants150
Total final enrolment134
Key inclusion criteria1. Pregnant women
2. Fasting glucose 92 mg/dl and/or a risk factor for diabetes
3. Positive screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), with the diagnosis made by the 75g oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) and glycaemic profile (GP).
Key exclusion criteriaDoes not meet inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment08/03/2016
Date of final enrolment20/12/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Brazil

Study participating centre

Perinatal Diabetes Research Centre
Av. Prof. Montenegro, s/n
Distrito de Rubião Júnior
Botucatu
18618-687
Brazil

Sponsor information

São Paulo State University
University/education

Botucatu Medical School
Av. Prof. Montenegro, s/n
Distrito de Rubião Júnior
Botucatu
18618-687
Brazil

Phone +55 14 38801001
Email pg.tocoginecologia.fmb@unesp.br
Website https://www.fmb.unesp.br/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00987cb86

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/08/2022
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request (guilhermerago@hotmail.com).

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article 02/06/2021 02/08/2021 Yes No
Thesis results 27/08/2021 12/04/2022 No No

Editorial Notes

12/04/2022: Thesis link added.
02/08/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by Institutional Research Bureau of Botucatu Medical School, UNESP.