{"id":9525,"date":"2021-02-12T14:00:42","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T22:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=9525"},"modified":"2021-02-12T11:40:10","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T19:40:10","slug":"the-effect-of-emotional-freedom-technique-on-nurses-stress-anxiety-and-burnout-levels-during-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/the-effect-of-emotional-freedom-technique-on-nurses-stress-anxiety-and-burnout-levels-during-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"The effect of emotional freedom technique on nurses’ stress, anxiety, and burnout levels during the pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"emotional<\/p>\n

Nurses who are working with patients during this pandemic \u201care particularly vulnerable to emotions such as fear and anxiety, due to fatigue, discomfort, and helplessness related to their high intensity work.<\/em>\u201d A new paper published Dec 2020, The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on nurses’ stress, anxiety, and burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial<\/a>\u00a0reports the benefits of just one online session of EFT (emotional freedom technique) or tapping.<\/p>\n

As this paper mentions, \u201cThe basic principle of EFT is to send activating and deactivating signals to the brain by stimulating points on the skin that have distinctive electrical properties, usually by tapping on them.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The study participants were shown a picture of the acupressure points and shown how to \u201cgently tap on them using their index and middle fingers. After this demonstration, the participants followed the basic steps of an EFT session, following the researcher’s example:<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Identify an anxiety-evoking issue and determine the SUD level <\/em>[the SUD is a subjective unit of distress ranging from 0 to 10 with 10 being most severe]<\/li>\n
  2. Creating a personal acceptance and reminder statement in the general form of “I accept myself despite this \u2026\u2026\u2026.”<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. Tapping seven times on each acupressure point <\/em><\/li>\n
  4. After tapping these points, the affirmation\/reminder statement is repeated.<\/em><\/li>\n
  5. A sequence of physical movements and vocalizations called \u201cThe Nine Gamut Procedure\u201d is carried out.<\/em><\/li>\n
  6. Steps 3 and 4 are repeated.<\/em><\/li>\n
  7. Another SUD rating is given<\/em> [in other words how they felt afterwards on a scale of 0 to 10]<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The study conclusion is as follows: \u201cA single online group EFT session reduced stress, anxiety, and burnout levels in nurses treating COVID-19<\/em>.\u201d You can read the full study here and see the picture of the acupressure points<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    This is a powerful intervention for nurses, other healthcare and frontline workers – and anyone dealing with anxiety, stress and burnout!<\/p>\n

    Tapping leads to psychological and physiological improvements<\/h2>\n

    As well as psychological improvements, tapping also leads to physiological improvements. In a 2019 study, \u201cafter a 4-day training workshop on tapping, the researchers reported that happiness increased by 31% and the following declines in psychological symptoms in 203 participants were reported:<\/em><\/p>\n