Potency of Emotional Freedom Technique on Post partum blues and parenting stress among Post caesarean section mothers in selected hospitals at Erode – Partially randomized patient preference study

Abstract

Context: The first months postpartum can be challenging for parents, leading to elevated symptoms of parenting stress, depression and anxiety. Methods: The aim of this study was to compare the potency of emotional freedom technique on post partum blues and parenting stress among post caesarean section mothers. The total sample size was 150 post partum caesarean section mothers. All study subjects were asked preferences about emotional freedom technique or standard methods of care. According to their strong preference the treatment conditions were allocated. 150 subjects were interviewed before intervention by assessing background variables. On the 2nd post caesarean section day, the subjects were assessed for postpartum blues by using Likert Am I Blue? Assessment scale and parental stress was measured by adopting parental stress scale. Experimental arm received emotional freedom technique for 30 minutes, twice a day (morning and evening) for 4 days. Control arm received standard methods of care. Posttest was conducted by using the same assessment techniques in experimental arm and control arm. Results: Paired‘t’ test and Unpaired‘t’ test showed statistical significance by scaling down the symptoms of post partum blues and parenting stress in experimental arm comparatively to the control arm among post caesarean section mothers. Conclusion: Emotional freedom technique was quite effective for curtailing the symptoms of post partum blues and parenting stress among post caesarean section mothers.