title: Healthcare professionals' attitudes, knowledge and self-efficacy levels regarding the use of self-hypnosis in childbirth: A prospective questionnaire survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to examine healthcare professionals' attitudes, knowledge and levels of self-efficacy regarding the use of self-hypnosis in childbirth.
  
  
  METHODS
  a prospective survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  two large maternity units in London, England.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  attitude, self-efficacy and knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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).
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.affiliation: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: sophiehaltonnathan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.affiliation: Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, James Clark Maxwell Building, 57 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8WA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kirstie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coxon
authors.affiliation: Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, James Clark Maxwell Building, 57 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8WA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murrells
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitudes; Childbirth; Healthcare surveys; Knowledge; Self-efficacy; Self-hypnosis