The Tapping Evidence Base
Pain · Anxiety

Effects of emotional freedom technique on postoperative pain and anxiety in patients undergoing total knee replacement: a randomised controlled experimental study

Tanriver, P., Gurcayir, D. · Journal of Research in Nursing · 2026

Randomized trial 👥 80 participants ⚖️ vs. Standard care Moderate rigor 📍 Turkiye
In plain English. Eighty knee-replacement patients were randomly assigned to Tapping or standard care after surgery. The Tapping group reported less pain and anxiety afterward. Numbers needed to size the effect were not in the abstract; pull the full text at review.

What they found

80
Eighty knee-replacement patients were randomly assigned to Tapping or standard care after surgery.

In a block-randomised trial (n=80), postoperative EFT produced significantly lower post-intervention pain (VAS) and state anxiety (STAI-S) vs standard care (p<0.05), with no baseline differences. Abstract reports significance only; group means/SDs not available (PMC full text embargoed at scan time), so no between-group effect size captured yet.

How the study worked

Who took part Adults post total knee replacement surgery; block-randomised 40 EFT / 40 standard care (n=80)
What they did In a randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to receive tapping or a comparison condition, then measured and compared.
Compared with Standard care
Measured with Pain (VAS), State anxiety (STAI-S), SUD

💡 Where this could help

A surgical-pain setting where a nurse-led Tapping protocol reduced post-op pain and anxiety versus standard care.

🔬 What to study next

The natural next step: longer-term follow-up to see how durable the benefit is, and an active ('sham tapping') control to isolate what's doing the work.

The full record

DesignRandomized trial
Participants80 people
PopulationAdults post total knee replacement surgery; block-randomised 40 EFT / 40 standard care
Comparison groupStandard care
Outcome measuresPain (VAS), State anxiety (STAI-S), SUD
JournalJournal of Research in Nursing
Year2026
CountryTurkiye
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / Tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
VerificationTranscribed from a peer-reviewed source; pending independent confirmation

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Tanriver, P., & Gurcayir, D. (2026). Effects of emotional freedom technique on postoperative pain and anxiety in patients undergoing total knee replacement: a randomised controlled experimental study. Journal of Research in Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871261441164

This record is part of the Tapping Evidence Base — an openly-sourced, fully-referenced directory of the research on EFT/Tapping. Explore more studies on Pain · Anxiety

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Pain 80 participants WHAT THEY FOUND In a block-randomised trial (n=80),postoperative EFT produced significantlylower post-intervention pain (VAS) and… Randomized trial · 80 participants Tanriver · 2026 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com