Pre-operative Hypnosis to Prevent Side Effects After Surgery

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the pilot study is to translate and feasibility test a brief hypnosis intervention in 8-10 patients that are about to undergo thoracic surgery and in 4-5 patients about to undergo breast cancer surgery.

Detailed Description
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The hypnosis intervention will be based on a protocol from Montgomery et al. They showed in a recent study that a brief 15-minute hypnosis intervention was effective in reducing a number of common side effects, including pain, fatigue and nausea. The scripted session includes a relaxation-based induction, suggestions for pleasant visual imagery, suggestions to experience relaxation and peace, and specific symptom-focused suggestions. The intervention will be professionally translated into Norwegian, and adapted and modified as necessary to the specific context of this study. The PI, who is a an experienced clinical psychologist, will hold the session in the pilot study. Patients will further be instructed to use hypnosis on their own following the intervention session. The patients will further be invited to participate in semi-structured interviews upon completion of the intervention, either by phone or in person, to discuss their experiences with the intervention, and share any advice for modifications or changes to the interventions or procedures. Systematic text condensation will be applied in the analyses of the interviews.

Official Title
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A Pilot Study Investigating the Feasibility of a Pre-operative Hypnosis Intervention to Prevent Post-operative Pain After Thoracic and Breast Cancer Surgery

Conditions
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Breast Cancer Surgery

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Hypnosis


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients about to undergo either breast cancer surgery or thoracic surgery Exclusion Criteria: Insufficient Norwegian speaking or writing skills to participate in the intervention cognitive and psychiatric impairment other serious malignancies

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Pilot testing of a pre-operative hypnosis intervention.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Pre-operative hypnosis<br> | Behavioral: Hypnosis<br>* See previous description<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patient experiences of the intervention | Obtained through qualitative interviews to assess patient experiences and possibly adverse effects of the intervention | 1 week post-surgery | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NRS Pain intensity one week after surgery | Numeric Rating Scale (0-10) of pain intensity in the surgical and referred area | 1 week post-surgery | 
| Fatigue severity one week after surgery | Numeric Rating Scale of fatigue severity | 1 week post-surgery |