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

NCT07421063 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AIBU-SBF-SA-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 72
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief 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 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.

Conditions

Anxiety; Parental Anxiety; Maternal Anxiety

Keywords

Emotional Freedom Technique; Parental Health; Tapping; Complementary Therapies; Neonatal Screening; Acupressure; EFT; Newborn Hearing Screening; Anxiety, Procedure-Related

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) Score

  The STAI-S measures the current state of anxiety. Scores range from 20 to 80, where higher scores indicate greater levels of anxiety.

  Baseline (Pre-test) and 15 minutes after the baseline (Post-test)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• 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).

Study Arms (2)

Emotional Freedom Technique Group

EXPERIMENTAL

15-minute guided acupoint tapping session

Behavioral: Emotional Freedom Technique

Control Group

OTHER

15-minute waiting period without active guidance

Other: No intervention

Interventions

Emotional Freedom Technique BEHAVIORAL

15-minute guided acupoint tapping session

Emotional Freedom Technique Group

No intervention OTHER

15-minute waiting period without active guidance

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Abant Izzet Baysal University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital, Newborn Hearing Screening Center

Bolu, 14030, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Bolu Izzet Baysal State Hospital, Newborn Hearing Screening Center

Bolu, 14030, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Wolpe J. Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). APA PsycTests. 1969.

  BACKGROUND

• Kim, D., Bae, H., & Chon Park, Y. (2008). Validity of the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale in EMDR. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 2, 57 - 62.

  BACKGROUND

• Clond M. Emotional Freedom Techniques for Anxiety: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2016 May;204(5):388-95. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000483.

  PMID: 26894319 BACKGROUND

• Oner N, Le Compte A. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: Handbook. 2nd ed. Istanbul: Bogazici University Press; 1998.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Sümeyra Alan, PhD

  Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2026
• First Posted: February 19, 2026
• Study Start: March 31, 2026
• Primary Completion: June 24, 2026
• Study Completion: June 24, 2026
• Last Updated: July 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: Data will be made available beginning 6 months after the publication of the primary results and will remain accessible for a period of 3 years.
• Access Criteria: Data access requests should be submitted via email to \[sumeyraalan@ibu.edu.tr\]. Proposals will be reviewed for scientific merit. Requestors must demonstrate that they have obtained necessary institutional ethical approvals and must agree to use the data only for the purposes specified in their approved proposal.

Locations

TU (2)