Enhancing self-efficacy in nursing internship students through Reiki practices: A randomized controlled trial

Self-efficacy is crucial for nursing students transitioning into clinical practice. Reiki, an energy therapy, shows promise in enhancing self-perception and well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Reiki practices on the self-efficacy of nursing internship students.

A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from April to July 2023. Forty-four nursing internship students were randomly divided using sealed envelopes into either an intervention group (n = 22), who underwent Reiki Level I training and daily self-practice for 21 days, and a control group (n = 22), who received no intervention. Data were collected using a demographic information form and the General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (GSE-10) before and after the intervention. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Chi-square, independent t-tests, and paired t-tests were performed using SPSS 16, with significance set at P < 0.05.

Both groups were demographically comparable at baseline. There was no statistically significant difference in self-efficacy scores between the intervention and control groups before the intervention (P = 0.468). However, after the intervention, the self-efficacy scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P = 0.002).

Reiki Level I training and practice significantly enhanced self-efficacy among nursing internship students, which suggests its potential as a complementary strategy in nursing education. Future research should explore the long-term impact and broader applications of Reiki in diverse educational and cultural contexts.