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of the treatment, the patient and parent experience
of the intervention, and patient preferences
(what was and what was not helpful).
Vol. 31 No. 1 January 2006 Hypnosis Interventions for Pediatric Cancer Patients 81
This type of research would benefit from
the application of qualitative research
methodologies.
Conclusions
These studies make a significant contribution
to the literature by providing specific hypnotic
techniques and a framework for further
studies. Furthermore, they report positive results,
including statistically significant reductions
in pain and anxiety/distress. This
suggests that hypnosis has potential as a clinically
valuable intervention that could contribute
to the management of procedure-related
pain and distress in pediatric cancer patients.
A number of methodological limitations were
identified, and further research into the effectiveness
and acceptability of hypnosis for pediatric
cancer patients is recommended. The
potential for hypnotic interventions to be used
as an adjunct to pharmacological techniques,
15,17
and in preparation for a general anesthetic,
requires further investigation. The
potential influence of hypnosis on anticipatory
anxiety has not been evaluated and would benefit
from research studies. Further research into