Postpartum ComfortNCT07447609
THE EFFECT OF REIKI ON BREASTFEEDING, PAIN AND COMFORT AFTER CESAREAN SECTION
A study testing reiki in people with Postpartum Comfort and Postpartum Care, run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
EFFECT OF REİKİ APPLİED DURİNG THE POSTPARTUM PERİOD ON BREASTFEEDİNG, PAİN, AND COMFORT IN WOMEN WHO DELİVERED BY CESAREAN SECTİON The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effect of Reiki applied to volunteer women after cesarean section on breastfeeding, pain, and comfort in the postpartum… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Postpartum Comfort, Postpartum Care, Cesarean Section Pain
- What is being tested?
- reiki
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 99 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 15 Jan 2025to 20 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Mothers aged 18 and over,
- Literate in Turkish,
- Non-smoker, non-drug user,
- Gave birth by cesarean section at term,
- Baby with them after birth,
- Not using any breast milk-increasing medication, vitamins, or supplements,
Show all 10Show fewer
- Baby's birth weight between 2500-4000 grams,
- Baby's Apgar score at least seven points at 1 and 5 minutes,
- Having had a cesarean section under spinal anesthesia,
- Those who agree to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- Preeclampsia/eclampsia, active postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis/fever ≥38°C,
- Need for intensive care,
- Birth before 37 weeks,
- Serious neonatal problems,
- Baby arriving at the ward after mother (follow-up in neonatal intensive care unit without hospitalization after birth),
- Excessive sedation due to analgesia,
- Communication difficulties,
- Markedly negative attitude towards Reiki.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Samsun Sehir Hastanesi
Samsun
Gözde Gülfiye Çakmak, 05553603460, gzdnzm@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: THE EFFECT OF REIKI APPLIED DURING THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD ON BREASTFEEDING, PAIN, AND COMFORT IN WOMEN WHO DELIVERED BY CESAREAN SECTION
EFFECT OF REİKİ APPLİED DURİNG THE POSTPARTUM PERİOD ON BREASTFEEDİNG, PAİN, AND COMFORT IN WOMEN WHO DELİVERED BY CESAREAN SECTİON
The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effect of Reiki applied to volunteer women after cesarean section on breastfeeding, pain, and comfort in the postpartum period. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Is there a difference in postpartum breastfeeding, pain, and comfort between the group receiving Reiki and the group receiving standard care? Is there a difference in postpartum breastfeeding, pain, and comfort between the group receiving Reiki and the group receiving Sham Reiki? Participants will receive Reiki six times postpartum: three times one-on-one during their hospital stay, and remotely in the second, third, and fourth weeks. The control group will receive standard care. The Sham Reiki group will receive Reiki points applied by a person without Reiki knowledge.
Read the detailed description
This study will be one of the rare studies that holistically evaluates the effects of Reiki application on pain, breastfeeding success, self-efficacy, comfort, and perception of milk supply in the postpartum period. Scales will be evaluated before and after Reiki sessions, and both the physiological and psychosocial healing process will be examined holistically.
The increase in cesarean section rates is associated with pain, mobility limitations, and increased care needs during hospital stay in the postpartum period. Postpartum pain and functional limitations due to the postoperative healing process can negatively affect early breastfeeding initiation, correct latching, and mother-infant interaction, thus reducing breastfeeding success (Buchko et al., 2022; Chang et al., 2021). Postpartum pain can delay or weaken breastfeeding adaptation; Therefore, the gains from comfort-enhancing interventions for mothers who have undergone cesarean delivery are important in terms of breastfeeding outcomes.
Complementary and supportive care approaches, especially non-pharmacological methods, can increase the effectiveness of nursing care by reducing maternal comfort and anxiety in the postpartum period (Lee \& Frazier, 2019). Energy-based practices such as Reiki are included in the literature with studies reporting positive effects on postoperative pain, anxiety, and some physiological parameters (Midilli \& Eser, 2015; Thrane \& Cohen, 2014). However, some randomized controlled trials have not found a significant difference (van der Vaart et al., 2011). This situation necessitates the evaluation of the effect of Reiki on breastfeeding and comfort in the post-cesarean period with well-designed, repeated-measurement randomized controlled trials. This study aims to examine the short-term (before/after each session) and mid-term (before and after discharge) effects of Reiki administered face-to-face in six short periods postoperatively at 0-4, 6-12, and approximately 24 hours, and remotely at 2, 3, and 4 weeks postpartum, using multiple scales. The literature shows that the LATCH (Jensen et al., 1994) and BSES-SF (Dennis, 2003) scales are used to predict breastfeeding performance and self-efficacy in the early postpartum period; perceived insufficient milk is closely related to weaning (Huang et al., 2021); and postpartum comfort can vary with delivery type or support interventions (Kolcaba, 2003). Therefore, the combined use of these scales strengthens the clinical and nursing care implications of this study.The research design is a randomized controlled, single-blind study.
- Blinding: Participants can be blinded; however, due to the nature of Reiki, the practitioner cannot be blinded. Since the researcher and practitioner are the same person, the Reiki group is known through pre- and post-session assessments. Participants selected for the study will be assigned to a group by coin toss upon admission. Participants will not be informed of their group assignment during the treatment.
- This is a single-center study, and participants will be selected from women who have given birth at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Samsun Training and Research Hospital, and who meet the inclusion criteria.
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Participants will be 18-45 years old, have had a single live birth, a planned/emergency cesarean section, be hemodynamically stable, have no problems with breastfeeding in the first 24 hours postoperatively, and be fluent in Turkish. Individuals with preeclampsia/eclampsia, active postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis/fever ≥38°C, need for intensive care, delivery before 37 weeks, serious neonatal problems, separation of mother and baby after birth (follow-up in neonatal intensive care unit without hospitalization), excessive sedation due to analgesia, communication difficulties, and a markedly negative attitude towards Reiki will be excluded from the study.
Timing and Measurements
Application Times (6 sessions):
- 0-4 hours postpartum day 0
- 6-12 hours postpartum day 0
- 24 hours and on postpartum day 1
- Remote Reiki in the 2nd week postpartum
- Remote Reiki in the 3rd week postpartum
- Remote Reiki in the 4th week postpartum
Before the first Reiki session:
- Vital signs: Fever, Pulse, Blood Pressure, SpO₂
- VAS (0-10)
- LATCH
- BSES-SF (Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Short Form) (pre-test)
- Perceived Insufficient Milk Questionnaire (pre-test)
- Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PSQI) (pre-test) Before each face-to-face Reiki session: • Vital signs
- VAS
- LATCH
After each face-to-face Reiki session:
- Vital signs
- VAS
- LATCH
- Reiki experience form
Before discharge (usually 24-72 hours):
- BSES-SF (Short Form of Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy)
- Perceived Insufficient Milk Questionnaire
- Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PMCQ)
Post-Discharge Follow-up:
Participants in the Reiki and Sham Reiki groups will be informed by phone before the Reiki session in the second and third weeks, and a phone call will be made after the session for feedback. In the fourth week, a phone call will be made to inquire about the baby's exclusive breastfeeding status (yes/no), the need for formula feeding (yes/no), breastfeeding frequency (how many times a day the baby breastfeeds), the baby's weight gain, and insufficient milk. The perception scale, breastfeeding self-efficacy scale, and postpartum comfort scale will be evaluated.
- Conditions
- Postpartum Comfort, Postpartum Care, Cesarean Section Pain, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, Perceived Insufficient Milk Supply, Reiki
- Being tested
- reiki, sham reiki
- Keywords
- Cesarean section, postpartum care, Reiki, breastfeeding, pain, comfort
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Feeding, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
reikiOther
Also called sham reiki
The effect of Reiki practice on breastfeeding during the postpartum period has not been evaluated; it is considered unique because it is evaluated together with its effect on pain and comfort, and offers a holistic approach to support care for women in the postpartum period.
sham reikiOther
It is believed that adding a sham reiki group alongside postpartum reiki treatment will increase the reliability and originality of the study.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| reiki therapy | Experimental | Intervention (Reiki Procedure)
* Duration: 16 min per session.
* Position: Mother semi-sitting/comfortable; wound area protected; baby not in lap. • Areas/hands:
* Head (including crown and ears) 4 min,
* Upper body (one hand on the throat, one hand on the heart) 4 min,
* Solar plexus/abdominal area (without direct pressure on the wound line) 2 min,
* Sacral 2 min,
* Root 4 min,
* Total: Minimum 16 min, maximum 20 min
* Contact is gentle/non-contact. • Environment: Quiet, private, phone/sound alerts off; comfortable room temperature.
* Practitioner: One person, Reiki Level II, standard trained, applies the same protocol. Caution: BP ≥160/110, pulse >120, SpO₂ <92%, fever ≥38°C, dizziness, syncope, severe pain increase → session is postponed/terminated, clinical evaluation is performed.
In distance Reiki practice, the Reiki practitioner will send Reiki to the participant by visualizing them using their Level 2 Reiki knowledge. Receives: Other: reiki |
| sham reiki | Placebo comparator | Reiki is a complementary therapy that originated in Japan and is increasingly offered in mainstream healthcare. It involves a trained practitioner gently placing their hands on or just above the recipient's body to activate the energy in the existing biological field within the body, restoring "energetic balance" and supporting the body's natural healing processes. Sham reiki, on the other hand, is a practice that mimics reiki but is performed by a healthcare professional who does not have a reiki certification.
Intervention Procedure
* Duration: 17-20 min per session. • Position: Mother in a semi-sitting/comfortable position; wound area protected; baby not in her lap. • Areas/Hands:
* Head (including crown and ears) 3 min,
* Upper body (one hand on the throat, one hand on the heart) 4 min,
* Solar plexus/abdominal area (without direct pressure on the wound line) 3 min,
* Sacral 3 min,
* Root 4 min,
* Total: Minimum 17 min, maximum 20 min
* Contact is gentle/non-contact. Receives: Other: sham reiki |
| control group | No intervention | Routine postpartum care • Measurements at the same time points: * Vital signs, VAS, LATCH (0-4 s, 6-12 s, 24 s) * Pre-discharge: BSES-SF, Perceived Insufficient Milk Supply, PPCQ * Post-discharge: Perceived Insufficient Milk Supply |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
In women who have had a cesarean section, Reiki applied at six separate times during the postpartum period affects their self-efficacy in breastfeeding.
Postpartum Reiki therapy has not been used to study breastfeeding self-efficacy in women who have had cesarean sections. The literature includes studies where Reiki therapy was applied to third-trimester pregnant women and breastfeeding self-efficacy was evaluated. Breastfeeding self-efficacy has been assessed after both cesarean and vaginal deliveries, but there are no studies using Reiki as an intervention. In this sense, the effect of Reiki on breastfeeding parameters is intriguing. Breastfeeding self-efficacy will be measured using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale - Short Form (BSES-SF).
The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, originally developed by Dennis and Faux in 1999, is a 33-item scale designed to assess breastfeeding self-efficacy levels. Following internal consistency testing, items with item-total correlations below 0.60 were removed, resulting in a shortened form of the new 14-item Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of
Measured: Women who have had a cesarean section will be assessed using a breastfeeding self-efficacy scale through face-to-face meetings on the first and second postoperative days, and by telephone during the fourth week.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Mar 2026
- Study start15 Jan 2025
- Primary completion20 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion20 May 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Postpartum ComfortStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Saglik Bilimleri UniversitesiThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- randomized controlled trial
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 99 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Gulten Guvenc, prof. dr., Study director, sağlık bilimleri university Faculty of Nursing
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07447609
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GOKAEK 2025/24/20
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- THE EFFECT OF REIKI APPLIED DURING THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD ON BREASTFEEDING, PAIN, AND COMFORT IN WOMEN WHO DELIVERED BY CESAREAN SECTION
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07447609
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GOKAEK 2025/24/20
- Conditions
- Postpartum Comfort, Postpartum Care, Cesarean Section Pain, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, Perceived Insufficient Milk Supply, Reiki
- Keywords
- Cesarean section, postpartum care, Reiki, breastfeeding, pain, comfort
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 99 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Saglik Bilimleri UniversitesiUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 20 May 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
EFFECT OF REİKİ APPLİED DURİNG THE POSTPARTUM PERİOD ON BREASTFEEDİNG, PAİN, AND COMFORT IN WOMEN WHO DELİVERED BY CESAREAN SECTİON
The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effect of Reiki applied to volunteer women after cesarean section on breastfeeding, pain, and comfort in the postpartum period. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Is there a difference in postpartum breastfeeding, pain, and comfort between the group receiving Reiki and the group receiving standard care? Is there a difference in postpartum breastfeeding, pain, and comfort between the group receiving Reiki and the group receiving Sham Reiki? Participants will receive Reiki six times postpartum: three times one-on-one during their hospital stay, and remotely in the second, third, and fourth weeks. The control group will receive standard care. The Sham Reiki group will receive Reiki points applied by a person without Reiki knowledge.
Detailed description
This study will be one of the rare studies that holistically evaluates the effects of Reiki application on pain, breastfeeding success, self-efficacy, comfort, and perception of milk supply in the postpartum period. Scales will be evaluated before and after Reiki sessions, and both the physiological and psychosocial healing process will be examined holistically.
The increase in cesarean section rates is associated with pain, mobility limitations, and increased care needs during hospital stay in the postpartum period. Postpartum pain and functional limitations due to the postoperative healing process can negatively affect early breastfeeding initiation, correct latching, and mother-infant interaction, thus reducing breastfeeding success (Buchko et al., 2022; Chang et al., 2021). Postpartum pain can delay or weaken breastfeeding adaptation; Therefore, the gains from comfort-enhancing interventions for mothers who have undergone cesarean delivery are important in terms of breastfeeding outcomes.
Complementary and supportive care approaches, especially non-pharmacological methods, can increase the effectiveness of nursing care by reducing maternal comfort and anxiety in the postpartum period (Lee \& Frazier, 2019). Energy-based practices such as Reiki are included in the literature with studies reporting positive effects on postoperative pain, anxiety, and some physiological parameters (Midilli \& Eser, 2015; Thrane \& Cohen, 2014). However, some randomized controlled trials have not found a significant difference (van der Vaart et al., 2011). This situation necessitates the evaluation of the effect of Reiki on breastfeeding and comfort in the post-cesarean period with well-designed, repeated-measurement randomized controlled trials. This study aims to examine the short-term (before/after each session) and mid-term (before and after discharge) effects of Reiki administered face-to-face in six short periods postoperatively at 0-4, 6-12, and approximately 24 hours, and remotely at 2, 3, and 4 weeks postpartum, using multiple scales. The literature shows that the LATCH (Jensen et al., 1994) and BSES-SF (Dennis, 2003) scales are used to predict breastfeeding performance and self-efficacy in the early postpartum period; perceived insufficient milk is closely related to weaning (Huang et al., 2021); and postpartum comfort can vary with delivery type or support interventions (Kolcaba, 2003). Therefore, the combined use of these scales strengthens the clinical and nursing care implications of this study.The research design is a randomized controlled, single-blind study.
- Blinding: Participants can be blinded; however, due to the nature of Reiki, the practitioner cannot be blinded. Since the researcher and practitioner are the same person, the Reiki group is known through pre- and post-session assessments. Participants selected for the study will be assigned to a group by coin toss upon admission. Participants will not be informed of their group assignment during the treatment.
- This is a single-center study, and participants will be selected from women who have given birth at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Samsun Training and Research Hospital, and who meet the inclusion criteria.
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Participants will be 18-45 years old, have had a single live birth, a planned/emergency cesarean section, be hemodynamically stable, have no problems with breastfeeding in the first 24 hours postoperatively, and be fluent in Turkish. Individuals with preeclampsia/eclampsia, active postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis/fever ≥38°C, need for intensive care, delivery before 37 weeks, serious neonatal problems, separation of mother and baby after birth (follow-up in neonatal intensive care unit without hospitalization), excessive sedation due to analgesia, communication difficulties, and a markedly negative attitude towards Reiki will be excluded from the study.
Timing and Measurements
Application Times (6 sessions):
- 0-4 hours postpartum day 0
- 6-12 hours postpartum day 0
- 24 hours and on postpartum day 1
- Remote Reiki in the 2nd week postpartum
- Remote Reiki in the 3rd week postpartum
- Remote Reiki in the 4th week postpartum
Before the first Reiki session:
- Vital signs: Fever, Pulse, Blood Pressure, SpO₂
- VAS (0-10)
- LATCH
- BSES-SF (Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Short Form) (pre-test)
- Perceived Insufficient Milk Questionnaire (pre-test)
- Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PSQI) (pre-test) Before each face-to-face Reiki session: • Vital signs
- VAS
- LATCH
After each face-to-face Reiki session:
- Vital signs
- VAS
- LATCH
- Reiki experience form
Before discharge (usually 24-72 hours):
- BSES-SF (Short Form of Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy)
- Perceived Insufficient Milk Questionnaire
- Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PMCQ)
Post-Discharge Follow-up:
Participants in the Reiki and Sham Reiki groups will be informed by phone before the Reiki session in the second and third weeks, and a phone call will be made after the session for feedback. In the fourth week, a phone call will be made to inquire about the baby's exclusive breastfeeding status (yes/no), the need for formula feeding (yes/no), breastfeeding frequency (how many times a day the baby breastfeeds), the baby's weight gain, and insufficient milk. The perception scale, breastfeeding self-efficacy scale, and postpartum comfort scale will be evaluated.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- randomized controlled trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| reiki therapy | Experimental | Other: reikiIntervention (Reiki Procedure) * Duration: 16 min per session. * Position: Mother semi-sitting/comfortable; wound area protected; baby not in lap. • Areas/hands: * Head (including crown and ears) 4 min, * Upper body (one hand on the throat, one hand on the heart) 4 min, * Solar plexus/abdominal area (without direct pressure on the wound line) 2 min, * Sacral 2 min, * Root 4 min, * Total: Minimum 16 min, maximum 20 min * Contact is gentle/non-contact. • Environment: Quiet, private, phone/sound alerts off; comfortable room temperature. * Practitioner: One person, Reiki Level II, standard trained, applies the same protocol. Caution: BP ≥160/110, pulse >120, SpO₂ <92%, fever ≥38°C, dizziness, syncope, severe pain increase → session is postponed/terminated, clinical evaluation is performed. In distance Reiki practice, the Reiki practitioner will send Reiki to the participant by visualizing them using their Level 2 Reiki knowledge. |
| sham reiki | Placebo comparator | Other: sham reikiReiki is a complementary therapy that originated in Japan and is increasingly offered in mainstream healthcare. It involves a trained practitioner gently placing their hands on or just above the recipient's body to activate the energy in the existing biological field within the body, restoring "energetic balance" and supporting the body's natural healing processes. Sham reiki, on the other hand, is a practice that mimics reiki but is performed by a healthcare professional who does not have a reiki certification. Intervention Procedure * Duration: 17-20 min per session. • Position: Mother in a semi-sitting/comfortable position; wound area protected; baby not in her lap. • Areas/Hands: * Head (including crown and ears) 3 min, * Upper body (one hand on the throat, one hand on the heart) 4 min, * Solar plexus/abdominal area (without direct pressure on the wound line) 3 min, * Sacral 3 min, * Root 4 min, * Total: Minimum 17 min, maximum 20 min * Contact is gentle/non-contact. |
| control group | No intervention | –Routine postpartum care • Measurements at the same time points: * Vital signs, VAS, LATCH (0-4 s, 6-12 s, 24 s) * Pre-discharge: BSES-SF, Perceived Insufficient Milk Supply, PPCQ * Post-discharge: Perceived Insufficient Milk Supply |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Mothers aged 18 and over,
- Literate in Turkish,
- Non-smoker, non-drug user,
- Gave birth by cesarean section at term,
- Baby with them after birth,
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Preeclampsia/eclampsia, active postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis/fever ≥38°C,
- Need for intensive care,
- Birth before 37 weeks,
- Serious neonatal problems,
- Baby arriving at the ward after mother (follow-up in neonatal intensive care unit without hospitalization after birth),
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| reikiAlso: sham reikiThe effect of Reiki practice on breastfeeding during the postpartum period has not been evaluated; it is considered unique because it is evaluated together with its effect on pain and comfort, and offers a holistic approach to support care for women in the postpartum period. | Other | reiki therapy |
| sham reikiIt is believed that adding a sham reiki group alongside postpartum reiki treatment will increase the reliability and originality of the study. | Other | sham reiki |
Primary outcome
In women who have had a cesarean section, Reiki applied at six separate times during the postpartum period affects their self-efficacy in breastfeeding.
Time frame: Women who have had a cesarean section will be assessed using a breastfeeding self-efficacy scale through face-to-face meetings on the first and second postoperative days, and by telephone during the fourth week.
Postpartum Reiki therapy has not been used to study breastfeeding self-efficacy in women who have had cesarean sections. The literature includes studies where Reiki therapy was applied to third-trimester pregnant women and breastfeeding self-efficacy was evaluated. Breastfeeding self-efficacy has been assessed after both cesarean and vaginal deliveries, but there are no studies using Reiki as an intervention. In this sense, the effect of Reiki on breastfeeding parameters is intriguing. Breastfeeding self-efficacy will be measured using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale - Short Form (BSES-SF). The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, originally developed by Dennis and Faux in 1999, is a 33-item scale designed to assess breastfeeding self-efficacy levels. Following internal consistency testing, items with item-total correlations below 0.60 were removed, resulting in a shortened form of the new 14-item Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Mar 2026.
- Complementary therapies for chronic knee pain: A placebo-controlled RCT of Reiki and mindfulnessLink provided by the sponsor.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Postpartum Comfort
Enrolling by invitation
The Effect of Breastfeeding Education Delivered Via a Hybrid Model on Breastfeeding Efficacy and Postpartum Comfort Levels
Breastfeeding, Postpartum Comfort
Recruiting
Interferential Current and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Pain After Cesarean Section
Postoperative Pain After Cesarean Section
Active, not recruitingPhase 4
Post-cesarean Analgesia: Comparing Effectiveness of Staggered v. Simultaneous Therapies
Cesarean Delivery, Postpartum Comfort
Recruiting
Post-Caesarean Pranayama and Pain
Postoperative Pain
Not yet recruiting
THE EFFECT OF REIKI APPLIED DURING THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD ON THE QUALITY OF POSTPARTUM RECOVERY, COMFORT AND MOOD.
Postpartum Period, Reiki Therapy
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Gulten Guvenc, prof. dr. study director
sağlık bilimleri university Faculty of Nursing
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing reiki in people with Postpartum Comfort and Postpartum Care, run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Gozde G Cakmak, specialist nurse, phd student (+905553603460, gzdnzm@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
In women who have had a cesarean section, Reiki applied at six separate times during the postpartum period affects their self-efficacy in breastfeeding. (time frame: Women who have had a cesarean section will be assessed using a breastfeeding self-efficacy scale through face-to-face meetings on the first and second postoperative days, and by telephone during the fourth week.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Mar 2026.