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Table 3 The understanding and expectations of patients pre-trial

From: Experiences of healing therapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease

Theme

Sub-theme

Code

Examples from patients

Understanding of Healing

Little understanding

 

“I didn’t really know what I was going into” P1 M IBS

“I don’t know [anything about healing]” P2 F IBS

“No, the only thing was what I read in the mail [newspaper]” P16 M UC

Awareness of healing

Recommendation

“I have worked with a girl that used to be a beautician and she suggested different things…when Dr [name] mentioned it, I thought I would like to try it” P12 F UC

Previous knowledge or experience

“I am in the industry myself and that helps” P10 M UC

“I have done Reiki in the past” P18 M IBS

“I have had Reiki once before” P20 F IBS

Expectation of Healing

Scepticism

 

“I must admit I was pretty much sceptical about it” P1 M IBS

“I didn’t think it could heal you or anything like that” P19 F UC

“Being realistic I know that nothing is going to cure it” P17 F UC

Unsure of what to expect

No idea

“I didn’t know what to expect” P2 F IBS

“I didn’t really know, know what to expect before” P6 F IBS

“I didn’t know what to expect” P13 F IBS

“I wasn’t hoping it would heal me because that would be a miracle” P14 F UC

Openness

Open to it

“I came in with an open mind” P19 F CD

“I went into it with an open mind…because I just wanted to see what would happen” P20 F IBS

Some benefit

Being more calm or relaxed

“It has been [being relaxed has been achieved]” P5 F UC

“I think my stress may be [helped]” P16 M UC

Sleep better

“To sleep a bit better than I did” P13 F IBS

Hope that it could help

“If there was a benefit then it would help to relieve the symptoms” P18 M IBS

“What I really wanted was to come off the tablets” P21 F IBS

Was told it would be beneficial

“She [a friend who was a therapist] said you need healing a lot” P15 F IBS