A pilot survey of clinicians' experiences, attitudes, and interests in hypnosis.

Growing evidence supports the use of clinical hypnosis for medical and mental health applications. Most health care professionals lack training in hypnosis, and this may impact their readiness to recommend it. This study examined experiences, attitudes, and interests in hypnosis among health care professionals from a variety of disciplines. Thirty-seven health care professionals completed an online survey prior to attending a talk on hypnosis. Half of survey respondents were physicians or nurses. Most reported no training in hypnosis (70.3%), but half had previously experienced hypnosis. Participants displayed an understanding of common myths and misconceptions regarding hypnosis and felt hypnosis could be useful in health care settings. Despite this, the majority indicated they are rarely or never asked about hypnosis by their patients. A significant majority of survey participants believed individuals providing hypnosis should have both training and certification.