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E R F F
helping you I
Hypnosis to alleviate
perioperative anxiety
and stress:
a journey to challenge ideas
by Patricia A Fern
Mention the possibility of surgery to a patient and most wili react with a feeiing of
apprehension at best. Some wiil be horrified at the mere thought of being 'cut open'. For
others, it will be the suggestion of entering a hospital for anything longer than an out patient
appointment. Newspaper reports of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) may spring to
mind: 'lV/7/ / leave with more than I came in for?'; 'What if it goes wrong?'; 'Who will look after
the family?'. All this worrying leads to increased anxiety and stress, and the patient has not
even been put on the waiting list yet, let alone been admitted.
a well respected theatre practitioner turned our number one lesson: how to beg for This was when the realisation came. I
hypnotherapist, who also taught this funding). Nothing seemed to happen very spoke to the senior manager with a view to
subject at the BSMDH. Things were coming quickly. I then contacted the Association for using hypnosis as part of my daily work,
together, I spoke to this person, who was Perioperative Practice (AfPP), The person I mostly for patients who were very stressed
very infectious in her enthusiasm for spoke to was very helpful and I was out prior to surgery I had to put together a
hypnosis and its uses, and she gave me advised I could apply for funding through proposal for its use within the department,
the dates for the training sessions at a the Education. Research Fellowship Fund covering where, when, how and why It could
local hospital. All I needed now was the (ERFF), although there were no guarantees. be used. The benefits, costs involved and
funding for the training. I got to work writing a supporting statement perceived risks all had to be addressed.
and filling in the application which I Following a lot of networking for ideas on
submitted via email the following day. how I should present this, I got help from
clinical colleagues across the hospital and
To my surprise, three weeks later I received the research and development department.
I approached my manager who was news that i had been given the funding This was eventually done together with a
sceptical at first, but passed me onto his requested, enough to cover the costs of mock-up of a patient information sheet and
manager, who said 'No, it has nothing to do each of the three training modules being submitted to the manager with certificates
with theatres'. Undeterred, I made phone offered. of training. Unfortunately this was
calls to medical company representatives submitted at a time of great change in the
that offer education grants {this should be My first course began in October 2006 and divisional structure within our hospital. It r'
I, along with approximately 40 other like-
had been well received by the outgoing Following a few more weeks of inactivity I and are therefore in an 'altered state",
manger and passed onto the new manager. bumped in to our clinical director and making them already receptive to our
Then it was lost in the internal email asked him how he thought I could proceed suggestions. Simple hypnosis techniques
system. The consequence of this was the with this. He surprised me by saying he can be learned and deployed easily and
timescale involved in getting it looked at by had no problems with me utilising hypnosis quickly, and hypnosis can be an effective
the right people who could accept or as long as I worked in close contact with tool for any practitioner who wishes to
decline the proposal was getting longer and the anaesthetists and gained surgeon lessen anxiety and stress for patients
longer. approval to work with their patients. He within the perioperative setting. •
considered it could be a good adjunct to
It was a very frustrating time knowing that
anaesthesia.
this therapy could be good for the patients, Further reading
helping them to relax preoperatively and It is intended that evaluation of this service
cope with needle phobias. As it was a time would be included as part of the routinely Kettertiagen D. Vandevusse L, Bemer M 2002 Self-
saving, cost effective and non-invasive hypnosis: alternative anesthesia for childbirth
undertaken patient satisfaction survey
American Journal of Matemal/Child Nursing 27
procedure, so many benefits could be lost performed twice yearly. (6) 335-341
if the proposal were rejected. I had to
become quite persuasive in dealing with NJckelson C, Brende JO, Gonzalez J 1999 What if
your patient prefers an alternative pain control
the new people involved in pushing it Future method? Self-hypnosis in tiie control of pain
forward, I am sure I became regarded as Southern Medical Journal 92 (5) 521-523
something of a nuisance but had to ensure Initially, only those patients who are
it was not forgotten. Unfortunately the considered to be really in need of help will
wheels of change move very slowly. be offered the opportunity of hypnosis. The
logistics of incorporating the time involved
Websites
Eventually, sonne three months later, the into an already over-worked schedule still www.channel4.com/more4/event AH/hypnosui^ry/
new senior manager included it in the have to be addressed, but the world of hypnosurgeryyve.html
agenda for the divisional matrons' nursing is in a changing and challenging British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis
meeting, at which it was agreed to support time. We as practitioners have to fight our www.bscah.com
the proposal, but it was also suggested corner to succeed in the introduction of
that it should be put forward to another new ideas into our daily working practice, in
meeting with the clinical director to get his the hope that we, and our patients will see
views. the benefits of our endeavours - only time
will teli.
The clinical director was eventually pinned About the author
down and persuaded to read my proposal. Patients look to practitioners for guidance
After reading the title he uttered the word and support when they are at their most Patricia A Fern
RN, ODP
'hypnosis' rather incredulously but he was vulnerable. This places practitioners in an
encouraged to continue reading. After this, idea! situation to help patients in the Theatre Staff Nurse. Day Surgery Unit.
he confessed he had no objections to it in perioperative setting as the patient already Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
principle and left to think it through. trusts that we know how to best help them.
The British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH) nationally run training courses in clinical hypnosis and stress management The
Midlands Branch course is validated by Staffordshire University to Advanced Diploma level These courses are open to health professionals and taught by
health professionals. For BSCAH course enquiries contact either
Mary Hyland Mrs Helen Sutton
29 Melstock Road Postgraduate Administrator
Kings Heath Faculty of Health
Birmingham Blackheath Lane
B14 7ND Staffond
ST18 0AD
0121 624 2306
EmaiL bscahmidlands@yahoo.com 01785 353756
Email; h.sutton@staflsac.uk