Objectives <p>This qualitative study explored the experiences of patients suffering from cancer and other chronic conditions and those of their practitioners during a Reiki treatment. Specific research objectives were to: 1) better understand how participants describe healing, 2) document consecutive therapeutic encounters (i.e. Reiki sessions) as experienced by patients and practitioners over time and, 3) identify meaningful benefits and other relevant outcomes from both perspectives. <p>Materials and Methods p*A convenience sample of four patient-practitioner pairs consented to participate in the study. Data was collected over 12 months via interviews with both the patients and Reiki practitioners. Hour long interviews were conducted before and after their participation in the study. Ten minute telephone interviews were done no longer then 48 hours after each Reiki session to capture participants experiences with that particular session. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed. A phenomenological approach was used for the data analysis. <p>Findings <p>This qualitative study attempted to longitudinally explore the experiences and practices of Reiki from both the patients and the practitioners perspectives. Illness specific symptom relief as well as mental and emotional effects such as decreased anxiety and a better ability to handle stressful situation were experienced by the patients. Spiritual awakening and connection was attributed to the Reiki sessions and the relationship established with their practitioner. Energy directed releases during the Reiki sessions were quite common. Some practitioners experienced different sensory experiences that they attributed to the Reiki energy. The experiences ranged from feeling the energy, temperature changes to seeing different objects during the Reiki treatment. Many of the experiences described by the participants support what has been written in the literature. However, certain concepts such as the evolving concept of healing as well as the altered perception of illness are newer concepts which are beginning to surface. <p>Conclusion <p>Patients and practitioners experiences helped to gain insight in to the therapeutic relationship and their evolving definitions of healing. Several outcomes were noted on the physical, mental and emotional levels of all participants. This information will help lay the groundwork for future research on Complementary therapies including Reiki. <p>Acknowledgement <p>The Department of Community Health and Epidemiology Devolved Scholarship Fund University of Saskatchewan and Hope Cancer Help Centre, Saskatoon Saskatchewan supplied funding.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-04242006-105532 |
| Date | 24 April 2006 |
| Creators | Mitchell, Katriona Claire |
| Contributors | Leis, Anne |
| Publisher | University of Saskatchewan |
| Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-04242006-105532/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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