The Effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on Parents' Anxiety Level: Newborn Hearing Screening

Overview

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.

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.