Perceived Traumatic ChildbirthNCT07773298
Emotional Freedom Technique for Perceived Traumatic Childbirth
A study testing Emotional Freedom Technique in people with Perceived Traumatic Childbirth, run by Ümmügülsüm Ulutaş at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Perceived Traumatic Childbirth
- What is being tested?
- Emotional Freedom Technique
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 158 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 9 Oct 2023to 18 Jun 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on Perceived Traumatic Childbirth, Anxiety, and Psychological Well-Being: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Perceived Traumatic Childbirth
- Being tested
- Emotional Freedom Technique
- Keywords
- Emotional Freedom Technique, Birth Trauma, Anxiety, Psychological Well-Being, Midwifery
- Medical subject headings
- Birth Injuries, Anxiety Disorders, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Emotional Freedom TechniqueBehavioural
Also called EFT
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional Freedom Technique Group | Experimental | Participants received a structured Emotional Freedom Technique intervention consisting of two face-to-face sessions and 14 guided online sessions over one week, for a total of 16 sessions. Receives: Behavioral: Emotional Freedom Technique |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants received no intervention during the study period. After completion of data collection, participants who requested Emotional Freedom Technique were offered an online session. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale Total Score
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.
Measured: Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session
Secondary outcomes (2)
Beck Anxiety Inventory Total Score
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.
Measured: Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session
Psychological Well-Being Scale Total Score
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.
Measured: Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Aug 2026
- Study start9 Oct 2023
- Primary completion18 Jun 2024
- Study completion18 Jun 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Perceived Traumatic ChildbirthStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ümmügülsüm Ulutaş
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ümmügülsüm Ulutaş, Malatya Turgut Ozal University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07773298
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EFT-PTB-2023-01
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 19 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on Perceived Traumatic Childbirth, Anxiety, and Psychological Well-Being: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07773298
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EFT-PTB-2023-01
- Conditions
- Perceived Traumatic Childbirth
- Keywords
- Emotional Freedom Technique, Birth Trauma, Anxiety, Psychological Well-Being, Midwifery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ümmügülsüm UlutaşUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 9 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 18 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 Jun 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional Freedom Technique Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Emotional Freedom TechniqueParticipants received a structured Emotional Freedom Technique intervention consisting of two face-to-face sessions and 14 guided online sessions over one week, for a total of 16 sessions. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Participants received no intervention during the study period. After completion of data collection, participants who requested Emotional Freedom Technique were offered an online session. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional Freedom TechniqueAlso: EFTThe 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. | Behavioural | Emotional Freedom Technique Group |
Primary outcome
Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale Total Score
Time frame: 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.
2 secondary outcomes
Beck Anxiety Inventory Total Score
Time frame: Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session
Psychological Well-Being Scale Total Score
Time frame: Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Emotional Freedom Technique in people with Perceived Traumatic Childbirth, run by Ümmügülsüm Ulutaş at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale Total Score (time frame: Baseline on Day 1 and Day 7, approximately 40 minutes after the second face-to-face intervention session). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2026.