Emotional Freedom Technique for Parental Anxiety Regarding Newborn Hearing Screening
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.
• 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.