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 parental 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 are randomly assigned to either an intervention group, where they perform a structured acupoint tapping sequence, or a control group that receives no active intervention. Anxiety is assessed using validated scales immediately before and after the 15-minute period to capture acute changes in distress. The researchers hypothesize that applying EFT regarding the procedure will significantly reduce parental anxiety levels compared to the non-intervention group.

Study Design and Randomization: This prospective, controlled experimental study utilizes a pretest-posttest design to evaluate the effects of the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) on parental anxiety. A total of 70 eligible parents will be recruited from the Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS) Units of two public hospitals. Participants will be assigned to either the EFT intervention group (n=35) or a non-intervention control group (n=35) using stratified block randomization with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Stratification is performed based on baseline state anxiety levels to ensure balanced distribution between the study arms. Procedural Standardization and Participant Management: To maintain internal validity and ensure the stability of pre-procedural anxiety measurements, specific situational controls are implemented. Participants are excluded if acute situational triggers-such as neonatal crying or breastfeeding-occur immediately before or during the intervention period. To minimize external distractions and allow the participant to focus entirely on the protocol, relatives provide care for the neonates during the 30-35 minute study duration. Intervention Protocols * EFT Group: Participants receive a 15-minute guided session led by a certified practitioner. The session begins with the "Karate Chop" point setup, where the participant repeats a specific acceptance sentence three times. This is 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 are completed within the 15-minute timeframe. * Control Group: Participants undergo identical pre-test assessments but remain in a designated waiting area for 15 minutes without any active intervention, guidance, or therapeutic contact. Data Collection and Measurement: Baseline assessments (Pre-tests) include a Parental Information Form, the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Post-test assessments (SUDS and STAI) are administered to both groups immediately following the 15-minute intervention or waiting period. The STAI evaluates both situational (state) and general (trait) anxiety on a scale ranging from 20 to 80, while the SUDS provides a subjective distress rating from 0 to 10.