Çuvadar Ayşe, Güneş Ayfer, Baş Yeter Çuvadar, Kehaya Sezgin
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, Karabük University, Karabük, Türkiye.
Department of Neurology, Trakya University Medical Research and Application Centre, Edirne, Türkiye.
Brain Behav. 2025 Jun;15(6):e70635. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70635.
This study aims to determine the effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on sexual dysfunction and self-care in women diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
This study was conducted using a pretest-posttest experimental design, including follow-up assessments to evaluate the sustainability of the intervention effects. The sample consisted of 16 women aged between 19 and 49 years who were diagnosed with MS and presented to the neurology clinic of a university hospital in Türkiye between October 2023 and September 2024. Data collection instruments included the Personal Information Form (PIF), Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 (MSISQ-19), and Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness (SCMP-G). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to analyze changes in sexuality and self-care over time. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Participants received two EFT sessions per month, each lasting 60 min, together with affirmation sessions conducted at least twice a week for 10-15 min. The mean scores of all subdimensions of the MSISQ-19 reached the lowest levels by the seventh week following EFT intervention, with significant differences between time points (p < 0.05). Even though an improvement was observed in the social protection dimension of self-care, the mean scores for the self-protection subdimension decreased.
The application of EFT demonstrated positive effects on sexual functioning and self-care levels in women with MS. Therefore, EFT can be integrated into the holistic care processes of patients with MS.
本研究旨在确定情绪自由技术（EFT）对被诊断为多发性硬化症（MS）的女性性功能障碍和自我护理的影响。
本研究采用前测-后测实验设计，并进行随访评估以评估干预效果的可持续性。样本包括16名年龄在19至49岁之间、被诊断为MS且于2023年10月至2024年9月期间前往土耳其一所大学医院神经科门诊就诊的女性。数据收集工具包括个人信息表（PIF）、多发性硬化症亲密关系与性问卷-19（MSISQ-19）以及慢性病自我护理管理流程（SCMP-G）。采用重复测量方差分析（ANOVA）来分析性和自我护理随时间的变化。设定统计学显著性为p < 0.05。
参与者每月接受两次EFT治疗，每次持续60分钟，同时每周至少进行两次10 - 15分钟的肯定性治疗。EFT干预后第七周，MSISQ-19所有子维度的平均得分达到最低水平，各时间点之间存在显著差异（p < 0.05）。尽管在自我护理的社会保护维度上观察到有所改善，但自我保护子维度的平均得分下降。
EFT的应用对MS女性的性功能和自我护理水平显示出积极影响。因此，EFT可纳入MS患者的整体护理过程。
