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Clowning as a Complementary Approach for Reducing Iatrogenic Effects in Pediatrics

Alberto Dionigi1

  • 1Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist in Cesena, Italy, and a member of the International Society for Humor Studies, and a clown doctor, clown doctor trainer, and president of the Italian Federation of Clown Doctors, and a lecturer in the field of humor.

AMA Journal of Ethics
|August 29, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Clinical clowns effectively reduce pain and distress in hospitalized children undergoing medical procedures. This review explores evidence supporting clown interventions in pediatric healthcare settings, highlighting their positive impact on patient well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric healthcare
  • Child psychology
  • Medical sociology

Background:

  • Hospitalized children are vulnerable to iatrogenic effects like anxiety and pain during medical procedures.
  • Clinical settings can exacerbate stress and fear in pediatric patients.
  • Interventions are needed to mitigate negative psychological and physiological responses in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the practice of clinical clowning in healthcare.
  • To review existing research on the efficacy of clown interventions for hospitalized children.
  • To discuss the professional aspects of healthcare clowning.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on clowning in pediatric healthcare.
  • Analysis of evidence demonstrating the impact of clown interventions on pain and distress.
  • Synthesis of findings regarding the effectiveness of clowns in clinical settings.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that clown interventions significantly decrease pain and distress in pediatric patients.
  • Clowning in clinical settings has been found effective in reducing anxiety and stress in hospitalized children.
  • Studies support the positive impact of clowns on children's experiences during hospitalization and procedures.

Conclusions:

  • Healthcare clowning is an evidence-based intervention for improving pediatric patient outcomes.
  • Clown interventions offer a non-pharmacological approach to managing pain and anxiety in children.
  • The role of the healthcare clown is a developing and valuable profession within pediatric care.

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