Sophie McAllister1, Kirstie Coxon2, T Murrells2, J Sandall3. 1. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: sophiehaltonnathan@hotmail.com. 2. Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, James Clark Maxwell Building, 57 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8WA, United Kingdom. 3. Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, Women's Health Academic Centre, St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: to examine healthcare professionals' attitudes, knowledge and levels of self-efficacy regarding the use of self-hypnosis in childbirth. DESIGN: a prospective survey. SETTING: two large maternity units in London, England. PARTICIPANTS: healthcare professionals (n=129) involved in the care of childbearing women (anaesthetists, midwives and obstetricians). METHODS: online questionnaire assessing healthcare professionals' experience, knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy relating to self-hypnosis in childbirth. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: attitude, self-efficacy and knowledge. FINDINGS: over half of the participants surveyed (56%) reported they had minimal or no knowledge of hypnosis. Higher levels of knowledge were associated with higher levels of self-efficacy (p<0.001) and also with more positive attitudes (p<.001). Midwives reported significantly higher levels of knowledge, more positive attitudes (7.25, 95% CI: 4.60-9.89) and higher levels of self-efficacy (3.48, 95% CI: 1.46-5.51) than doctors. Midwives also reported more exposure to/experience of hypnosis than doctors, and more exposure was significantly associated with higher levels of self-efficacy (midwives p<.001; doctors p=.001). Professionals who would plan to use self-hypnosis in their own or partners' births had significantly higher self-efficacy scores (p<.001). KEY CONCLUSIONS: if healthcare professionals are to effectively support women using self-hypnosis in childbirth, they need to be confident in their ability to facilitate this method. Previous research has established that self-efficacy is a strong indicator of performance. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Professionals with more knowledge of self-hypnosis are also more confident in supporting women using this technique in childbirth. Multi-disciplinary staff training which aims to increase knowledge, and which includes exposure to hypnosis in labour, may be beneficial in assisting staff to support women choosing to use self-hypnosis in labour.
OBJECTIVE: to examine healthcare professionals' attitudes, knowledge and levels of self-efficacy regarding the use of self-hypnosis in childbirth. DESIGN: a prospective survey. SETTING: two large maternity units in London, England. PARTICIPANTS: healthcare professionals (n=129) involved in the care of childbearing women (anaesthetists, midwives and obstetricians). METHODS: online questionnaire assessing healthcare professionals' experience, knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy relating to self-hypnosis in childbirth. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: attitude, self-efficacy and knowledge. FINDINGS: over half of the participants surveyed (56%) reported they had minimal or no knowledge of hypnosis. Higher levels of knowledge were associated with higher levels of self-efficacy (p<0.001) and also with more positive attitudes (p<.001). Midwives reported significantly higher levels of knowledge, more positive attitudes (7.25, 95% CI: 4.60-9.89) and higher levels of self-efficacy (3.48, 95% CI: 1.46-5.51) than doctors. Midwives also reported more exposure to/experience of hypnosis than doctors, and more exposure was significantly associated with higher levels of self-efficacy (midwives p<.001; doctors p=.001). Professionals who would plan to use self-hypnosis in their own or partners' births had significantly higher self-efficacy scores (p<.001). KEY CONCLUSIONS: if healthcare professionals are to effectively support women using self-hypnosis in childbirth, they need to be confident in their ability to facilitate this method. Previous research has established that self-efficacy is a strong indicator of performance. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Professionals with more knowledge of self-hypnosis are also more confident in supporting women using this technique in childbirth. Multi-disciplinary staff training which aims to increase knowledge, and which includes exposure to hypnosis in labour, may be beneficial in assisting staff to support women choosing to use self-hypnosis in labour.
Authors: Lindsey C McKernan; Michael T M Finn; David R Patterson; Rhonda M Williams; Mark P Jensen Journal: J Altern Complement Med Date: 2020-01-03 Impact factor: 2.579