Zheng Dandan, Xiao Wei, Duan Dan, Tang Chunhua, Lin Xianghao
Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China.
Yichang Central People's Hospital, Zhijiang, China.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Sep 5;104(36):e44211. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000044211.
Cancer patients frequently experience anticipatory grief (AG), anxiety, and sleep disturbances. This randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of the emotional freedom technique (EFT) therapy in alleviating these symptoms.
A total of 58 cancer patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 30) receiving 4-week EFT therapy (acupoint tapping + scripted prompts, 5 minutes per prompt) plus routine care, or a control group (n = 28) receiving routine care alone. AG was measured using the Preparatory Grief in Advanced Cancer Patients scale, anxiety with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and sleep quality via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at baseline and postintervention.
After 4 weeks, the intervention group demonstrated: Significantly lower AG scores versus control (P < .01); greater anxiety reduction (P = .04); improved sleep quality (P < .01).
EFT therapy produces clinically significant improvements in AG, anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality among cancer patients within 4 weeks.
癌症患者经常经历预期性悲伤（AG）、焦虑和睡眠障碍。这项随机对照试验评估了情绪释放疗法（EFT）在缓解这些症状方面的疗效。
总共58名癌症患者被随机分配到干预组（n = 30），接受为期4周的EFT疗法（穴位轻拍 + 脚本提示，每个提示5分钟）加常规护理，或对照组（n = 28），仅接受常规护理。在基线和干预后，使用晚期癌症患者的预备性悲伤量表测量AG，使用汉密尔顿焦虑评定量表测量焦虑，通过匹兹堡睡眠质量指数测量睡眠质量。
4周后，干预组表现出：与对照组相比，AG得分显著更低（P < .01）；焦虑减轻更明显（P = .04）；睡眠质量改善（P < .01）。
EFT疗法在4周内使癌症患者的AG、焦虑症状和睡眠质量在临床上有显著改善。
