Feasibility and Acceptability of Recruiting Very Young Hospitalized Children Receiving Palliative Care to an Integrative Therapy Study (S743)

Feasibility and Acceptability of Recruiting Very Young Hospitalized Children Receiving Palliative Care to an Integrative Therapy Study (S743)

Thrane S; Shaner V; Allmendinger-Goertz K; Ibach M; Friebert S

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

2020

adolescent; child; conference abstract; controlled study; critically ill patient; feasibility study; female; follow up; foster care; hospitalized child; human; infant; major clinical study; male; palliative therapy; pilot study; Reiki

Objectives: * Discuss whether the Reiki intervention was feasible to implement with this population of very young hospitalized children receiving palliative care. * Discuss why parents thought the Reiki intervention was helpful to their child. Original Research Background: Previous work showed Reiki was feasible and acceptable to children ages 7-16 receiving palliative care at home. Because they are in a challenging developmental stage, very young children are seldom studied, especially when examining a hands-on intervention such as Reiki, a light touch therapy. Research Objectives: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a Reiki therapy intervention with children ages 1 to 5 years. Methods. This was a quasi-experimental one-group pilot study involving children ages 1-5 years, receiving palliative care, and expected to be hospitalized for three or more weeks. Children were excluded if they turned 6 during the study, were in foster care, or were critically ill. Children were screened and families approached if appropriate. At follow up, parents were asked if they would participate again and if they would continue Reiki sessions. Feasibility was calculated by the proportion of families approached who enrolled and completed at least 5/6 Reiki sessions and all measures. Results. Between March 2017 and July 2019, 90 children were screened, 28 families approached, and 16 families (57%) consented. Reasons for declining included concern that Reiki might interfere with other treatments, and the child didn’t like unfamiliar staff. Of those who consented, 14/16 (87.5%) completed at least 5/6 sessions and all measures. Halfway through the study, one child became critically ill and died due to their illness and another parent withdrew. Of the 14 that completed data collection,

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