Emotional Freedom Technique for Parental Anxiety Regarding Newborn Hearing Screening
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 72
- 试验地点
- 4
- 主要终点
- State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) Score
研究概览
简要总结
Newborn hearing screening (NHS) is a standard procedure that often triggers acute anxiety in parents. While Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing psychological distress across various clinical settings, its specific application to maternal anxiety during the neonatal screening period remains under-researched. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of a targeted EFT intervention on anxiety levels in mothers awaiting their newborns' first hearing tests.
The primary objective is to determine if a brief, 15-minute EFT session reduces maternal anxiety more effectively than a standard waiting period. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group, where they perform a structured acupoint tapping sequence, or a control group that received no active intervention. Anxiety was assessed using validated scales immediately before and after the 15-minute period to capture acute changes in distress. Due to clinical environment conditions and hospital accompaniment patterns, the study was completed with a final sample of 70 mothers.
详细描述
Study Design and Randomization: This prospective, controlled experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design to evaluate the effects of the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) on maternal anxiety. A total of 72 eligible mothers were recruited from the Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS) Units of two public hospitals. Participants were assigned to either the EFT intervention group (n=36) or a non-intervention control group (n=34) using stratified block randomization based on hospital site and baseline state anxiety levels.
Procedural Standardization and Participant Management: To maintain internal validity and ensure the stability of pre-procedural anxiety measurements, specific situational controls were implemented. Participants were excluded if acute situational triggers-such as neonatal crying or breastfeeding-occurred immediately before or during the intervention period. In accordance with this criterion, two participants were excluded from the study due to persistent neonatal crying during the session. To minimize external distractions and allow the participant to focus entirely on the protocol, relatives provided care for the neonates during the 30-35 minute study duration.
Intervention Protocols:
- EFT Group: Participants received a 15-minute guided session led by a certified practitioner. The session began with the "Karate Chop" point setup, where the participant repeated a specific acceptance sentence three times. This was followed by sequential tapping (approximately seven times per point) on twelve designated acupoints: the beginning of the eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, the chin, collarbone, under the armpit, thumb, index finger, middle finger, little finger, and the Karate Chop point. Multiple tapping rounds were completed within the 15-minute timeframe.
- Control Group: Participants underwent identical pre-test assessments but remained in a designated waiting area for 15 minutes without any active intervention, guidance, or therapeutic contact.
Data Collection and Measurement: Baseline assessments (Pre-tests) included a Parental Information Form, the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Post-test assessments (SUDS and STAI) were administered to both groups immediately following the 15-minute intervention or waiting period. The STAI evaluated both situational (state) and general (trait) anxiety on a scale ranging from 20 to 80, while the SUDS provided a subjective distress rating from 0 to 10.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Supportive Care
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- Female
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Mothers of neonates who are undergoing the newborn hearing screening (NHS) for the first time.
- •Ability to communicate effectively in the native language without language barriers.
- •No prior experience or training in applying the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
- •Voluntary agreement to participate in the study and completion of the informed consent form.
排除标准
- •Known history of diagnosed psychiatric disorders or epilepsy.
- •Situations where the neonate is crying or being breastfed immediately prior to the intervention or during the assessment.
- •The scheduled hearing screening procedure is initiated before the 30-35-minute study protocol is completed.
- •Occurrence of any acute situational triggers or environmental distractions that may interfere with the stability of anxiety measurements.
研究组 & 干预措施
Emotional Freedom Technique Group
15-minute guided acupoint tapping session
干预措施: Emotional Freedom Technique (Behavioral)
Control Group
15-minute waiting period without active guidance
干预措施: No intervention (Other)
结局指标
主要结局
State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) Score
时间窗: Baseline (Pre-test) and 15 minutes after the baseline (Post-test)
The STAI-S measures the current state of anxiety. Scores range from 20 to 80, where higher scores indicate greater levels of anxiety.
次要结局
- Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS)(Baseline (Pre-test) and 15 minutes after the baseline (Post-test).)
- State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait (STAI-T) Score(Baseline (Pre-test) and 15 minutes after the baseline (Post-test).)
研究者
Sümeyra ALAN
Assistant Professor
Abant Izzet Baysal University