Perceived Traumatic Childbirth
Conditions
Keywords
Emotional Freedom Technique, Birth Trauma, Anxiety, Psychological Well-Being, Midwifery
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) on perceived traumatic childbirth, anxiety, and psychological well-being among women with perceived traumatic childbirth. Eligible women were randomly assigned to either the EFT group or the control group. The EFT group received two face-to-face sessions and 14 guided online sessions over one week, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Perceived traumatic childbirth was the primary outcome; anxiety and psychological well-being were the secondary outcomes.
Detailed description
This single-center, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted at Yurtbasi Family Health Center in Elazig, Türkiye. Women were eligible if they had a Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale score of 27 or higher, a Subjective Units of Experience score of -1 or lower, and a history of at least one vaginal birth. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to the Emotional Freedom Technique group or the no-intervention control group. The EFT intervention consisted of an initial face-to-face session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes on Day 1, followed by 14 guided online sessions delivered via Zoom twice daily for one week. Each online session lasted approximately 15 minutes. A second face-to-face session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes was conducted on Day 7. Participants in the EFT group therefore completed a total of 16 sessions. Assessments were conducted at baseline on Day 1 and approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face session on Day 7. Perceived traumatic childbirth was assessed using the Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale. Anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and psychological well-being was assessed using the Psychological Well-Being Scale. The control group received no intervention during the study period. After data collection was completed, control-group participants who requested EFT were offered an online session.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEmotional Freedom Technique
The Emotional Freedom Technique intervention was delivered by a researcher who had completed 40 hours of certified EFT training. Participants received an initial face-to-face session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes on Day 1. This was followed by 14 guided online sessions delivered via Zoom twice daily, in the morning and evening, over one week; each online session lasted approximately 15 minutes. A second face-to-face session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes was conducted on Day 7. The intervention included identification of distress related to the previous vaginal birth experience, assessment using the Subjective Units of Experience Scale, formulation and repetition of a reminder phrase, tapping on specified points, empowering affirmations, reassessment, and closure. Participants completed a total of 16 sessions.
Sponsors
Ümmügülsüm Ulutaş
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* A Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale score of 27 or higher * A negative affect level of -1 or lower on the Subjective Units of Experience Scale * A history of at least one vaginal birth * Registration at or presentation to Yurtbasi Family Health Center
Exclusion criteria
* A documented psychiatric diagnosis in the Family Health Center records * Inability to communicate in Turkish * Hearing, speech, or comprehension impairments that interfered with communication * Infection, wounds, or scars in the body areas used for tapping during Emotional Freedom Technique
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale Total Score | Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session | Perceived traumatic childbirth was assessed using the Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale (PTCS). The scale consists of 13 self-report items, each scored from 0 to 10. Total scores range from 0 to 130, with higher scores indicating a greater severity of perceived traumatic childbirth. A total score of 27 or higher indicates perceived traumatic childbirth. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Beck Anxiety Inventory Total Score | Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session | Anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The inventory consists of 21 self-report items, each scored from 0 to 3. Total scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating greater severity of anxiety symptoms. |
| Psychological Well-Being Scale Total Score | Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session | Psychological well-being was assessed using the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS). The scale consists of eight self-report items rated on a 7-point scale. Total scores range from 8 to 56, with higher scores indicating greater psychological well-being. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed