Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research

Background and Aims: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), particularly clinical hypnotherapy, has gained increasing recognition as an evidence-based adjunct therapy in modern healthcare. Despite its demonstrated efficacy in managing conditions such as anxiety, stress, and chronic pain, a notable “support gap” persists due to insufficient integration into medical education. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and perceptions, knowledge levels and barriers of clinical hypnotherapy among clinical-year medical students in four Malaysian universities.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Place and Duration of Study: MAHSA University, the National Defence University of Malaysia (NDUM), Taylor’s University, and UCSI University. The duration of the study was from March 2025 till February 2026.

Methodology: A multicenter survey was conducted among 215 clinical-year medical students from four Malaysian universities. A structured 10-item questionnaire comprising five domains (demographics, awareness, attitudes, perceived barriers, and learning factors) was developed following a literature review and expert panel review. The instrument was pilot tested among 30 students and demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.87). The questionnaire was administered online using Google Forms. The minimum required sample size was calculated as 261 participants from a population of 810 students at a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error. Clinical-year students who provided consent were included, while preclinical students and incomplete responses were excluded. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0 and summarized using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests.

Results: Findings revealed limited formal exposure to CAM, with only 17.2% of respondents having attended related educational sessions. However, 52.1% reported awareness of hypnotherapy, largely influenced by informal sources such as social media. Students most recognized its role in anxiety and stress reduction (79.8%) and insomnia (65.8%), while fewer identified its applications in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. Perceptions were generally positive, particularly regarding preoperative anxiety reduction, although uncertainty remained for chronic disease management and treatment compliance. The key barriers included limited clinician awareness, patient skepticism, and perceived lack of scientific evidence. Most participants expressed interest in structured CAM education, favoring a multimodal approach integrating lectures, case discussions, and curriculum inclusion.

Conclusion(s): Awareness of hypnotherapy among medical students is moderate and formal education remains insufficient. Integrating evidence-based CAM content into medical curricula may help bridge the support gap and enhance future clinical practice.