We're building a better ClinicalTrials.gov. Check it out and tell us what you think!
Working…
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov Menu

The Use of Reiki for Patients With Advanced AIDS

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00032721
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : April 1, 2002
Last Update Posted : August 18, 2006
Sponsor:
Information provided by:
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Study Description
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Brief Summary:
This study will investigate the use of Reiki, an energy-based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) intervention, as an approach to improve well-being for patients with advanced AIDS, and evaluate its effects on dimensions of well-being and quality of life.

Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome HIV Infections Procedure: Reiki; Subtle energy therapy Phase 2

Detailed Description:

This study will investigate the use of Reiki, an energy-based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) intervention, as an approach to improve well being for patients with advanced AIDS, and evaluate its effects on dimensions of well being and quality of life. The study is a two-group comparison between participants receiving Reiki plus usual medical care (treatment) and participants receiving usual medical care only (control).

One hundred and forty-six patients with advanced AIDS will be enrolled and randomized into the two groups. Patients in the intervention (Reiki) group will receive a total of three one-hour Reiki sessions over a period of 6 weeks. Participants in both the intervention and control groups will be assessed at two times during the study period using repeated measures. We will investigate and compare changes in participants' anxiety, depression, pain, quality of life, and spiritual well being at the end of the intervention period. This is the first part of a longer-term research agenda to examine the use and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicines for patients with advanced disease. We plan to examine one clinical context in which Reiki is currently provided. It is important to design studies that respect both the context of care and the practitioner-client relationship-elements essential to an understanding of the philosophy and delivery of CAM such as Reiki, and at the same time endeavor to outline a systematic approach to the study of CAM.

Study Design
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Layout table for study information
Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Enrollment : 146 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: The Use of Reiki for Patients With Advanced AIDS
Study Start Date : March 2002
Study Completion Date : September 2003

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus related topics: HIV/AIDS

Arms and Interventions
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information


Outcome Measures
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Eligibility Criteria
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.


Layout table for eligibility information
Ages Eligible for Study:   21 Years and older   (Adult, Older Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

  • Diagnosis of advanced AIDS, defined as: CD4 count of less than 200 during the past 12 months;
  • On HAART for at least 6 months;
  • Over age 18;
  • Decisionally capable of providing informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Not capable of providing informed consent because of psychiatric limitations, e.g. active psychosis.
Contacts and Locations
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00032721


Locations
Layout table for location information
United States, Pennsylvania
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19121
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19141
Sponsors and Collaborators
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Investigators
Layout table for investigator information
Principal Investigator: Gala True, PhD Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
More Information
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Layout table for additonal information
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00032721    
Other Study ID Numbers: R21AT001012-01 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
First Posted: April 1, 2002    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: August 18, 2006
Last Verified: July 2006
Keywords provided by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH):
complementary therapies
Alternative medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine
 Subtle energy therapy
Reiki
HIV/AIDS
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Layout table for MeSH terms
HIV Infections
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Blood-Borne Infections
Communicable Diseases
Infections
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Immune System Diseases
Slow Virus Diseases