The Effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on Parents' Anxiety Level: 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 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.

Inclusion Criteria: * 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. 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.