Transpersonal care through Reiki: Experiences of family members of children with sickle cell disease

Abstract

Objective: To understand the experiences of family members of children with sickle cell disease during transpersonal nursing care meetings mediated by Reiki. Materials and methods: Convergent care research, underpinned by Watson's Theory on Human Care, developed in a health facility for people with sickle cell disease in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The study was carried out from August to October 2016. Interviews with participants took place before and after six sessions of transpersonal care mediated by Reiki with seven family members. Thematic content analysis was applied to the data collected. Results: Participants realized the importance of cultivating self-recognition, identifying their fears and feelings, valuing self-care, reflecting on their health priorities and needs, and recognizing their potential for transforming their practices. After the meetings, feelings emerged towards valuing the self as a person to be cared for, reducing anxiety and stress, reconnecting with beliefs and deities, acceptance of the disease, the role of caregiver and the future, as well as better interaction with family members in order to manage conflicts harmonically. Conclusions: Transpersonal care favors nursing professionals’ autonomy to create their own way of thinking and practicing longitudinal care, which can be applied throughout the process of prevention, diagnosis and rehabilitation of the disease to achieve healing. It is up to these professionals to deepen theoretically on this approach and use the Clinical Caritas Process in the systematization of nursing care.