MAY 2006, VOLUME 34, NUMBER 1, Abstract 12
Scientific Papers
The Use of Hypnosis and Suggestion by an Obstetric Anaesthetist
Allan M. Cyna & Marion I. Andrew, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
A Comparison of Midwives’ Knowledge of and Attitudes to Hypnosis in Hospitals With and Without a Hypnotherapy Service
Yen Huey Eng, University of Adelaide, & Allan M. Cyna, Women’s and Children’s Hospital,Adelaide
We performed a cross-sectional survey of midwives’ knowledge of and attitudes to hypnosis in hospitals with (CH) and without (NCH) a clinical hypnotherapy service. A 28-item questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of midwives at the two hospitals.The overall response rate was 118 of 130 midwives (91%). Compared with NCH, CH midwives were more likely to support the use of clinical hypnosis (p < .001) and hypnosis as being helpful during childbirth (p < .001), and to recommend hypnosis as an analgesic adjunct during childbirth (p < .001). CH midwives were also more likely to express an interest in hypnotic techniques being taught during midwifery training.The vast majority of respondents (83%) agreed that positive suggestion techniques should be taught during midwifery training.