Key Finding
A single online group EFT session produced highly significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and burnout (p<.001 for all measures) in nurses treating COVID-19 patients, while the no-treatment control group showed no significant changes.
Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout in Nurses: Could Tapping Help?
The demands of healthcare work — especially during a pandemic — can take a serious toll on mental and emotional wellbeing. A recent randomized controlled trial published in the journal Explore investigated whether a technique called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), commonly known as "tapping," could help nurses cope with the psychological pressures of caring for COVID-19 patients.
What Is EFT Tapping? EFT is a mind-body practice that involves tapping with fingertips on specific acupuncture points on the body while focusing on an emotional issue. It draws from the same principles as traditional acupuncture — working with the body's energy meridian system — but does not use needles.
What Was Studied? Researchers in Turkey recruited 72 nurses working in a COVID-19 hospital unit. Half the nurses received a single guided EFT session delivered online as a group. The other half received no treatment. Both groups were measured for stress, anxiety, and burnout before and after the session.
What Did They Find? The results were striking. Nurses who participated in the single online EFT session showed highly significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and burnout. The nurses who received no treatment showed no meaningful change in any of these measures.
What Does This Mean for You? This study suggests that even one brief EFT session can produce meaningful relief from emotional and psychological strain. Because EFT is rooted in acupuncture meridian theory, it complements and extends the principles behind acupuncture care. For patients already exploring acupuncture for stress or anxiety, EFT may offer an accessible, self-care tool to use between appointments.
If you are interested in exploring EFT or acupuncture for stress and anxiety management, speak with a licensed acupuncturist or certified EFT practitioner to find the right approach for your needs.
This randomized controlled trial (RCT), published in Explore, evaluated the efficacy of a single online group Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) session on stress, anxiety, and burnout in nurses actively treating COVID-19 patients at a Turkish university hospital. Seventy-two participants were randomized into an intervention group (n=35) and a no-treatment control group (n=37). The study adhered to CONSORT reporting guidelines. Following one guided online EFT session, the intervention group demonstrated statistically significant reductions in all three outcome measures: stress (p<.001), anxiety (p<.001), and burnout (p<.001). The control group showed no significant changes (p>.05). No effect sizes were reported. Clinically, this trial supports EFT — a meridian-based, needleless intervention — as a rapid, scalable adjunct for psychological distress in high-stress healthcare populations. Practitioners may consider recommending EFT as a between-session self-care protocol for patients presenting with occupational stress, anxiety, or burnout syndromes.
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