Exploring the usefulness of medical clowns in elevating satisfaction and reducing aggressive tendencies in pediatric and adult hospital wards

Background Most existing research on medical clowns in health care services has investigated their usefulness mainly among child health consumers. In this research we examined multiple viewpoints of medical staff, clowns, and health consumers aiming to identify the optimal audience (adult or child health consumers) for which medical clowns are most useful. We focused on exploring their usefulness in enhancing health consumers’ satisfaction and, in turn, reducing their aggressive tendencies. Methods We conducted three studies that examined the placement fit of medical clowns from different points of view: medical staff (Study 1, n = 88), medical clowns (Study 2, n = 20), and health consumers (Study 3, n = 397). The main analyses in Studies 1 and 2 included frequencies and t-tests comparing perceived adult and child satisfaction with clowns’ performance. Study 3 used moderated-mediation PROCESS bootstrapping regression analysis to test the indirect effect of negative affectivity on aggressive tendencies via satisfaction. Exposure to the medical clown moderated this relationship differently for different ages. Results Studies 1 and 2 show that the majority of medical clowns and medical staff report that the current placement of the medical clowns is in pediatric wards; about half (44% of medical staff, 54% of medical clowns) thought that this placement policy should change. In Study 3, data from health consumers in seven different hospital wards showed that clowns are useful in mitigating the effect of negative affectivity on satisfaction, thereby reducing aggressive tendencies among health consumers under the age of 21.6 years. Surprisingly, medical clowns had the opposite effect on most adults: for health consumers who were exposed to the medical clown and were above the age of 21.6 negative affectivity was related to decreased satisfaction, and an increase in aggressive tendencies was observed. Discussion Medical clowns are most useful in elevating satisfaction and reducing aggressive tendencies of children. Older adults, on the other hand, exhibit lower satisfaction and higher aggressive tendencies following exposure to the performance of medical clowns. Conclusion Medical clowns should be placed primarily in children’s wards.

Exploring the Usefulness of Medical Clowns in Elevating Satisfaction and Reducing Aggressive Tendencies in Pediatric and Adult Hospital Wards

Background – Most existing research on medical clowns in health care services has investigated their usefulness mainly among child health consumers. In this research we examined multiple viewpoints of medical staff, clowns, and health consumers aiming to identify the optimal audience (adult or child health consumers) for which medical clowns are most useful. We focused on exploring their usefulness in enhancing health consumers’ satisfaction and, in turn, reducing their aggressive tendencies. Methods – We conducted three studies that examined the placement fit of medical clowns from different points of view: medical staff (Study 1, n = 88), medical clowns (Study 2, n = 20), and health consumers (Study 3, n = 397). The main analyses in Studies 1 and 2 included frequencies and t-tests comparing perceived adult and child satisfaction with clowns’ performance. Study 3 used moderated-mediation PROCESS bootstrapping regression analysis to test the indirect effect of negative affectivity on aggressive tendencies via satisfaction. Exposure to the medical clown moderated this relationship differently for different ages.Results – Studies 1 and 2 show that the majority of medical clowns and medical staff report that the current placement of the medical clowns is in pediatric wards; about half (44% of medical staff, 54% of medical clowns) thought that this placement policy should change. In Study 3, data from health consumers in seven different hospital wards showed that clowns are useful in mitigating the effect of negative affectivity on satisfaction, thereby reducing aggressive tendencies among health consumers under the age of 21.6 years . Surprisingly, medical clowns had the opposite effect on most adults: for health consumers who were exposed to the medical clown and were above the age of 21.6 negative affectivity was related to decreased satisfaction, and an increase in aggressive tendencies was observed. Discussion - Medical clowns are most useful in elevating satisfaction and reducing aggressive tendencies of children. Older adults, on the other hand, exhibit lower satisfaction and higher aggressive tendencies following exposure to the performance of medical clowns. Conclusion – Medical clowns should be placed primarily in children’s wards.

Highly sensitive persons, caregiving strategies and humour: the case of Italian and Israeli medical clowns

The medical clown is a healthcare practitioner whose character is strictly associated with the performer’s own personality. In this study, the relationships between level of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), caregiving strategies and humour in Italian and Israeli clowns were compared. Participants were 159 medical clowns (97 Italian and 62 Israeli), ranging from 22 to 74 years of age, who completed a demographic questionnaire, the self-reported Highly Sensitive Person Scale, the Caregiving Strategies Scale and the BenCor. Results showed that higher SPS was related to higher hyperactivation and deactivation, and that hyperactivation was related to lower benevolent humour and greater corrective humour. Hyperactivation negatively predicts benevolent humour but positively predicts corrective humour, beyond the effect of SPS. Deactivation had no relationship to either benevolent or corrective humour. The results are also discussed in reference to differences between the two groups and to previous studies conducted with general populations.

Saving Costs for Hospitals Through Medical Clowning: A Study of Hospital Staff Perspectives on the Impact of the Medical Clown

This study explores the perspectives of doctors, nurses, and technicians on the medical clown. A total of 35 subjects were interviewed one on one. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for common themes. Medical staff outlined novel limitations and views of future directions for the field of medical clowning. Most importantly, many previously unpublished benefits of medical clowns were described. These reported benefits included cost-saving measures for the hospital, increases in staff efficiency, better patient outcomes, and lower stress in medical staff. Given that most of the limitations on medical clowning are financial in nature, these findings have substantial implications for the future of the field. As medical clowning continues to grow, this study outlines the potential for various future research projects within this field of study.

Medical Clowning: An Embodiment of Transgressive Play

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span>“Medical clowns” are part of a growing field conducting play encounters in hospitals throughout the global community. One intention for a medical clown encounter with a pediatric patient is empowerment, or restoration of agency. This paper explores these encounters through the lens of performance studies, play theory, and the author’s personal praxis as a medical clown to investigate the impact on the multiple audiences involved in a hospital encounter: patient, family, and staff. Medical clown encounters evoke Bernie De Koven’s notions of a “well-played game” and “play community,” and warrant further research to ascertain the impact beyond the initial encounter. </span></p></div></div></div></div>