Abstract: The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) defines determinants that influence people’s health, such as income, education, social support, physical environment, access to health services, personal behaviors, and gender. This study explores delivery of a therapeutic intervention called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and self-administration of EFT in chronic disease patients from the perspective of the WHO determinants of health. Sixteen participants, including eight EFT practitioners and eight chronic disease patients, described their experiences of EFT in semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology. Four major themes were identified: practitioner and client experiences of online EFT therapy, experiences of telephone EFT therapy, experiences in online support groups, and the use of EFT for self-care. Participant accounts illustrated EFT’s value in alleviating barriers to access to health services and facilitating self-care in chronic disease patients. Online and telephone delivery of EFT offered a useful alternative for residents of remote and rural areas without access to mental health services. EFT is effective in groups using online videoconferencing platforms to provide a social support network. Additionally, EFT is favored by the study’s participants for selfcare, maintaining positive mood, and for general well-being.
Making sense of chronic disease using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): An existential view of illness
