Children's and Their Parents' Experiences With Home-Based Guided Hypnotherapy: Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Functional abdominal pain (FAP) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) present management challenges in primary care for children.
• Limited treatment options exist for primary care physicians when education and reassurance fail.
• Home-based guided hypnotherapy is an accessible, promising intervention for pediatric FAP/IBS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of children and their parents with home-based guided hypnotherapy for FAP/IBS.
• To identify factors influencing the feasibility and acceptance of this intervention.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing open-ended questionnaires and in-depth semistructured interviews.
• Participants included children diagnosed with FAP/IBS and their parents.
• Data analyzed iteratively using thematic content analysis.

Main Results:

• Children's experiences with hypnotherapy ranged from 'boring' to 'fun,' influenced by exercise engagement and perceived effects.
• Parental feedback indicated hypnotherapy may not suit all children, particularly the very young or those with high energy/stress levels.
• Website content, practicalities, and the ability to customize exercises significantly impacted user experience.

Conclusions:

• Home-based guided hypnotherapy experiences are highly individual, with enjoyment linked to liked content, perceived benefits, and ease of integration.
• Enhancing adherence and effectiveness may involve incorporating shorter exercises and personalizing website appearance and content.
• Further research is needed to validate these improvements and their impact on treatment outcomes.