The effect of reiki application on sleep and quality of life in patients with epilepsy

THE EFFECTS OF REIKI ON SLEEP AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY This study was conducted to investigate the effects of reiki on sleep and quality of life in patients with epilepsy. This study was carried out as a randomised experimental study with a pre-test – post test control group with 60 patients who met the criteria and agreed to participate in the study among patients with epilepsy who were admitted to the Neurology outpatient clinics and clinics of Fırat University Training and Research Hospital between October 2022 and March 2023. The 30 patients in the intervention group received reiki for a total of 4 weeks and 10 sessions, 30-45 minutes of 1 session face-to-face and 21 minutes of 3 sessions online on consecutive days during the first week and 21 minutes of 3 sessions online on any two days of the week for the remaining three weeks. No intervention was performed in the control group. Patient Personal Information Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE -31) Scale were used to collect the data. Cronbach Alpha coefficient, frequency and percentage analyses, chi-square test, mean scores, standard deviation, independent groups t test, dependent groups t test and regression analysis were used to analyse the data. In the study, it was found that the mean total and subscale scores of PSQI decreased statistically significantly and the mean total and subscale scores of QOILE-31 increased in the intervention group after the intervention, compared to the patients in the control group (p<0.05). As a conclusion, it was determined that reiki improved sleep quality and increased quality of life in patients with epilepsy. In line with these results, it is recommended that the use of reiki in the care and treatment of epilepsy patients should be widespread in addition to basic nursing care practices. Key Words: Epilepsy, Nursing, Reiki, Sleep, Quality of Lifeoldurulacaktır