Nurse-Led Spiritual Emotional Freedom Technique (SEFT) to Reduce Anxiety in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally, with an estimated 19.8 million deaths or 32% of total deaths worldwide in 2022. Cardiac catheterization is the best and most reliable technique for detecting and diagnosing blockages in the coronary arteries. Patients undergoing cardiac catheterization may experience anxiety due to the procedure. This study aims to determine the effect of SEFT (Spiritual Emotional Freedom Technique) on reducing anxiety in patients with stable angina pectoris undergoing cardiac catheterization. This study uses a quantitative method with a pre-experimental approach. The samples in this study consisted of 55 patients with stable angina pectoris who underwent cardiac catheterization in the Cathlab of Dr. Mohammad Hoesin General Hospital in Palembang within one month using accidental sampling technique. This study was conducted from January 21 to February 6, 2026. The SEFT therapy intervention was then conducted by a researcher certified in SEFT Total Solution Training, assisted by one facilitator. The therapy was conducted using tapping techniques on 9 body points for 5–25 minutes per respondent in a single session over one day. In the Wilcoxon test between the SEFT technique and the anxiety of patients with stable angina pectoris, a p-value of 0.000 < 0.05 was obtained. It can be concluded that SEFT has an effect on reducing the anxiety of patients with stable angina pectoris undergoing cardiac catheterization. Based on the findings of this study, it is hoped that these results can serve as an additional reference for nurses and hospital staff, particularly those in the cardiovascular unit, and that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for SEFT therapy will be developed so that they can be studied and utilized as a nonpharmacological intervention in the provision of nursing care to reduce anxiety, particularly among cardiac catheterization patients