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NCT Number: NCT07454044

Nurse-Led Emotional Freedom Technique for Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Thyroid Surgery

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Preoperative Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Fear and Anxiety Mental Disorders Thyroid Surgery

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location contact

Kamile Yaren Behlevan

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905372468285

Selda Rızalar

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Emotional Freedom Technique

Behavioral

Emotional Freedom Technique will be administered by trained nurses during the preoperative period according to a standardized protocol.

Primary outcomes

  1. 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).

    Total score measured using the Surgical Anxiety Scale for Adult Patients. Scores range from 0 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.

Secondary outcomes

  1. 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).

    Total score measured using the Surgical Fear Questionnaire (SFQ). The scale consists of 8 items rated on an 11-point Likert scale (0-10), with total scores ranging from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate greater surgical fear.

  2. 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).

    Measured using the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater emotional distress.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Kamile Yaren Behlevan

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905372468285

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Patients Undergoing Thyroid Surgery

Acronym: EFT

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 6, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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