Effectiveness of Self-Hypnosis as a Non-pharmacological Approach on Post-Cesarean Pain Relief

Effective postoperative pain management after caesarean section (C-section) is essential to prevent delayed recovery and prolonged hospitalization. Pharmacological analgesics remain the standard, but their side effects underscore the need for safe, accessible, non-pharmacological adjuncts such as self-hypnosis. This study examined the effect of self-hypnosis on postoperative pain intensity among C-section patients at Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta. A quasi-experimental design was used with 36 participants meeting the inclusion criteria. The intervention group listened to self-hypnosis audio 4–6 hours after surgery, while the control group received instrumental music. Pain intensity was assessed before and after intervention using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Results exhibited a significant difference between groups (p = 0.002, Mann-Whitney U test). The NRS scores showed that the control group had a modest reduction (7.33 to 6.27), whereas the intervention group revealed a greater decrease (7.17 to 5.16). The Wilcoxon test indicated a significant reduction in the intervention group (p = 0.000). Self-hypnosis thus effectively reduced postoperative pain intensity and may function as a useful adjunct to standard analgesic therapy.