Emotional Freedom Techniques in Nursing Students With Primary Dysmenorrhea

NCT07658859 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: B.30.2.ATA.0.01.00/252
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 92
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study will examine whether Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can reduce pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and functional-emotional impact in nursing students with primary dysmenorrhea. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive EFT-based support, and the control group will continue their usual coping practices. Study outcomes will be measured before the intervention, after the intervention, and at follow-up. This study may provide evidence for a safe, non-pharmacological approach to support students with primary dysmenorrhea.

Conditions

PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA

Keywords

PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA; EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES; NURSING STUDENTS

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Participants will rate the most severe menstrual pain experienced during the relevant menstrual cycle on a 0-10 scale, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain.

  Baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; 2-3 days after the end of menstrual bleeding in the intervention cycle), and follow-up (T2; 2-3 days after the end of menstrual bleeding in the next menstrual cycle)

• Pain Catastrophizing

  Pain catastrophizing will be assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Total scores range from 0 to 52. Higher scores indicate greater pain catastrophizing and therefore a worse outcome.

  Baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; 2-3 days after the end of menstrual bleeding in the intervention cycle), and follow-up (T2; 2-3 days after the end of menstrual bleeding in the next menstrual cycle)

• Functional-Emotional Impact

  Functional-emotional impact will be assessed using the Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea Scale (FEDS). Total scores range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate greater functional and emotional impact of dysmenorrhea and therefore a worse outcome.

  Baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; 2-3 days after the end of menstrual bleeding in the intervention cycle), and follow-up (T2; 2-3 days after the end of menstrual bleeding in the next menstrual cycle)

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the experimental group will receive a structured Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)-based nursing intervention. The intervention will include an individual preparation and education session 5-7 days before the expected menstruation, followed by a guided EFT session on the first day of menstrual pain. Participants will also be encouraged to perform self-application 1-2 times on the same day.

Behavioral: EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES (EFT)

Control Grup

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group will not receive the EFT-based nursing intervention during the study period and will continue their usual coping methods for menstrual pain without any additional structured support.

Interventions

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES (EFT) BEHAVIORAL

The intervention consists of a structured Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)-based nursing intervention designed for nursing students with primary dysmenorrhea. It includes an individual preparation and education session conducted 5-7 days before the expected menstruation, during which pain-related thoughts, emotions, and bodily awareness are identified and individualized setup statements are developed. A guided EFT session is then conducted on the first day of menstrual pain. During this session, participants focus on dysmenorrhea-related distress while repeating the individualized setup statements and following the structured EFT sequence under researcher guidance. Pain intensity and subjective distress are assessed before and after the guided session. Participants are also advised to repeat the EFT self-application 1-2 times on the same day.

Experimental Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Being enrolled in a nursing program,
• Being 18 years of age or older
• Having had a regular menstrual cycle within the last six months
• Experiencing primary dysmenorrhea during the last three menstrual cycles
• Reporting moderate to severe pain according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS: 4-10)
• Voluntary participation in the study
• Providing written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Having a diagnosed gynecological disease that may cause secondary dysmenorrhea (endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, etc.)
• Having chronic pain syndrome
• Receiving regular treatment or taking psychiatric medication due to a psychiatric diagnosis
• Applying another pharmacological or non-pharmacological intervention that may affect pain perception during the research process,
• Taking the course Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Nursing • Receiving/having received emotional freedom technique training,
• Having previously received training in this technique or regularly using it
• Having a cognitive or sensory problem that prevents communication or completing data collection forms
• Not completing the application protocol
• Incomplete completion of data collection forms
• Wishing to withdraw from the research

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ataturk University: lead

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: research assistant

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 12, 2026
• First Posted: June 22, 2026
• Study Start: June 19, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 19, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 19, 2026
• Last Updated: June 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share