This research study is being done to determine if Distance Reiki therapy offers a quality of life benefit, and improves immunity compared to patients receiving Sham Distance Reiki therapy or no additional Reiki intervention.
Reiki is a popular complementary medicine modality sought after by patients. This non- intrusive Japanese based therapy centers on the guiding of energy through a Reiki practitioner to the patient which facilitates innate healing by modulation of energy fields. Reiki is formally classified as biofield therapy by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Current research indicates that Reiki shows promise as a noninvasive healing tool for mind and body, particularly among patients with cancer. However, the data validating the effectiveness of Reiki integrated within a structured medical paradigm and the effect on cancer immunity remains unknown. Given the clear demand for Reiki among cancer patients but skepticism within the medical community, this trial will aim to determine an objective patient reported quality of life (PRQoL) benefit by utilizing validated tools, in order to effectively implement Reiki into traditional medical practice. Multiple myeloma patients are at high risk of serious illness from the COVID-19 virus during this pandemic, and so distance Reiki will be carried out via video conferencing platform.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
30
Reiki therapy session performed remotely over a Zoom® video conferencing platform led by Reiki Practitioners who are also Health Care Providers at the Mayo Clinic, and have at least 6 months of experience in Reiki.
Session performed remotely over a Zoom® video conferencing platform led by a Health Care Provider employed at the Mayo Clinic, but will have no experience in Reiki and will not be a certified Reiki Practitioner.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Change in patient-reported quality of life
Measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-29 survey. PROMIS measures are scored on the T-score metric. High scores mean more of the concept being measured (eg. more Fatigue, more Physical Function)
Time frame: Baseline, approximately 5 weeks
Change in patient-reported overall quality of life
Measured using the single item Linear Analogue Self-Assessment (LASA) that uses a 10-point Likert scale, where 0=as bad as it can be and 10=as good as it can be
Time frame: Baseline, approximately 5 weeks
Acceptability of Distance Reiki among multiple myeloma (MM) outpatients.
Measured by using the "Was it worth it" (WIWI) questionnaire which patients will complete upon study completion. This is a 3 item questionnaire which assesses patient satisfaction. Higher scores indicate greater acceptability of the Reiki intervention.
Time frame: Approximately 5 weeks
Phenotypic characterization of circulating immune cells
Measured using mass cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) to phenotypically characterize the immune cells in peripheral blood
Time frame: Baseline, approximately 5 weeks
Assessment of T-cell receptor repertoire and T-cell clonal diversity
Analyzed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) RNA-sequencing to define T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoire.
Time frame: Baseline, approximately 5 weeks
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