Effect of Applying Emotional Freedom Technique on Fear and Anxiety among Women Undergoing Hysterectomy

Background: Hysterectomy is a significant surgical gynecological procedure that can cause major women's anxiety and fear, potentially affecting their overall well-being and their recovery. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a mind-body therapeutic method, has shown promise in reducing psychological distress associated with surgical interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of EFT on surgical fear and anxiety among women undergoing hysterectomy. Design: A pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group quasi-experimental design was utilized. Study Sample: A purposive sample of 140 women undergoing hysterectomy was recruited. Setting: The study was applied in the obstetrics and gynecology wards of Mansoura University Hospital in Mansoura City, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection: a structured interviewing questionnaire, the anxiety surgery questionnaire, and the surgical fear questionnaire. Results: The study group experienced a statistically significant reduction in surgical fear scores compared to the control group, with scores of 43.41 ± 1.76 versus 74.3 ± 3.14, respectively (P < 0.05) after applying the EFT. In addition, there was an observable decrease in surgical anxiety scores in the study group after the intervention, decreasing from 45.73 ± 2.02 to 17.71 ± 1.69 (p < 0.001). In contrast, the control group experienced only a modest reduction in their scores, decreasing from 43.88 ± 2.33 to 34.34 ± 4.55 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Women receiving EFT intervention before hysterectomy showed a significantly greater reduction in surgical fear and anxiety scores than those receiving routine hospital care. Recommendation: Integrate the EFT intervention into preoperative hospital care programs to highlight its benefits for hysterectomized women.