Nurse-Led Emotional Freedom Technique for Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Thyroid Surgery
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Emotional Freedom Technique.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Preoperative Anxiety, Fear and Anxiety, Thyroid Surgery. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
The Effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Patients Undergoing Thyroid Surgery
Overview
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a non-invasive, low-cost complementary intervention that has been used in various clinical settings to reduce anxiety and psychological distress. Although previous studies have suggested the potential benefits of EFT in general anxiety and postoperative psychological outcomes, evidence regarding its effectiveness in patients undergoing thyroid surgery is limited. Thyroid surgery is associated with unique sources of preoperative anxiety and fear due to potential complications related to voice, swallowing, and hormonal balance. This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on preoperative anxiety and fear in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving EFT in addition to standard preoperative nursing care or to a control group receiving standard preoperative nursing care alone. EFT will be administered by trained nurses following a standardized protocol during the preoperative period. Anxiety and fear levels will be assessed using validated measurement tools before and after the intervention. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based nursing practices and to support the integration of complementary interventions into perioperative nursing care.
Detailed description
This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest control group design. The study will be conducted in the surgical clinic of Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital among patients scheduled for thyroid surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
The intervention group will receive Emotional Freedom Technique in addition to routine preoperative nursing care, while the control group will receive routine preoperative nursing care only. Emotional Freedom Technique will be administered by trained nurses in a quiet and comfortable environment during the preoperative period. Preoperative anxiety and fear levels will be assessed before and after the intervention using validated measurement tools. The study aims to evaluate the effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on preoperative anxiety and fear within the scope of perioperative nursing care.
Interventions
- Behavioral Emotional Freedom Technique
Emotional Freedom Technique will be administered by trained nurses during the preoperative period according to a standardized protocol.
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Surgical Anxiety Scale for Adult Patients Total Score (Range: 0-68) [Time frame: From baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately after the intervention (approximately 30 minutes later, preoperatively).]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Change in Surgical Fear Questionnaire (SFQ) Total Score (Range: 0-80) [Time frame: From baseline (pre-intervention, preoperative period) to immediately after the intervention (approximately 30 minutes later, preoperatively).]
- Change in Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) Score (Range: 0-10) [Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the EFT session (approximately 25-30 minutes).]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Patients scheduled for thyroid surgery
- Aged 18 years and older
- Able to speak and understand Turkish
- Literate (able to read and write)
- No visual, hearing, or mental impairment
- Able to communicate effectively
- Preoperative anxiety and fear level of 3 or higher according to the Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) scale
Exclusion criteria
- Presence of a neurological disorder
- Diagnosed psychiatric disorder and current use of medication for this condition
- Previous training related to coping with anxiety or fear
- Previous participation in an energy therapy course
- Presence of infection, wound, or scar at the tapping (touch) sites
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital — Istanbul
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07454044 · 25-10