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

Summary

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.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* Parents 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.

Exclusion Criteria:

* 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.

Conditions2

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