Cultivating Comfort: Examining Participant Satisfaction with Hypnotic Communication Training in Pain Management

Figures & data

Table 1 Description of the HYlaDO Training Content

Day 1: Relational Aspects	Day 2: Specific Hypnoanalgesia Techniques
Verbal components of communication: Eg, de-identified words to differentiate the patient from their illness in their self-definition, simple words adapted to the patient, and positive words bringing emotional and physical benefits to the patient; A technique called Reframing: to reframe the patient’s language to reduce the cognitive components of their pain and change the meaning of the unpleasant sensation.	The Pleasant Place technique: Allows the patient, through attention distraction, to let their mind wander to a comfortable and serene place. It allows them to reduce their focus on the medical room and the care they are receiving. When using this technique, the healthcare providers help the patient to recall the physical characteristics of a place associated with happy memories or a place they want to visit; The healthcare providers learn to invite the patient to explore this pleasant place using their five senses, using the VAKOG acronym (ie visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory), to enhance their experience.
Non-verbal components of communication: Eg, emphasis on words, pauses, silences, body contact; A technique called Synchronization, that includes two distinct sequences: pacing, in which the practitioner synchronizes with the other, and leading, in which they take the lead with suggestions	A targeted hypnotic analgesia technique Involves direct suggestions of dissociation and analgesia on the body part to be treated; Based on glove analgesia techniques widely used in pediatrics and already taught in other hypnotic communication training programs.^Citation26,Citation31

Table 2 Characteristics of the Study Sample

Participants*	Age (Year)	Gender	Profession	Years of Practice**
CN1	43	Woman	Clinical Nurse	22
CN2	33	Woman	Clinical Nurse	12
RT1	52	Man	Respiratory Therapist	20+
RT2	45	Woman	Respiratory Therapist	10
STD1	21	Man	Student in Psychology	0
STD2	29	Woman	Student in Psychology and Rehabilitation Counselor	5

Notes: *Code names. **In their mentioned profession.

Figure 1 Main Themes and Sub-Themes Derived from Interview Thematic Analysis.

Table 3 Sumary of Areas of Improvement Suggested for the HYlaDO Training

Suggestions of Improvement	Content
1) Providing More Material;	More tools (eg, concrete tips, texts, phrases, or keywords to use or avoid).
2) More Practical Workshops, More Concrete and Adapted;	More practical exercises and opportunities to test the various techniques learned during the training; Adding scenarios with greater ecological value and realism (eg, learning techniques in crisis situations); Adapting practical exercises / techniques to the real-world medical environment (ie some techniques could be shortened to make them more useful in medical workplace).
3) Testimonials from Former Patients;	Have testimonials from patients who had experienced these hypnosis techniques in the context of their care.
4) Follow-Up Training Meeting;	Have a virtual follow-up meeting sometime after the training with all participants.
5) Continuing Education.	Offer an advanced training for those interested; Develop a hypnosis service at the hospital.

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International Society of Hypnosis. Ish training policy guidelines for who should be trained in clinical hypnosis, Building Bridges of Understanding; 2021. Available from: https://d3lut3gzcpx87s.cloudfront.net/down/eJwFwQEKgCAMAMAXbSrqyH6zZlGUKW0Q9PrudrOhs3N6XKcaP4YakRt@@eZXUXpztUYSKQJCnCAlmWBZqUD1soSSPfkccNTtB!IsGCY=/ISH%20Training%20Policy_150622.pdf. Accessed June 17, 2024.

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