Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1267932
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Do Clown Visits Improve Psychological and Sense of Physical Well-being of Hospitalized Pediatric Patients? A Randomized-controlled Trial
Verbessern Clownbesuche das psychische und physische Befinden hospitalisierter pädiatrischer Patienten? Eine randomisierte kontrollierte StudiePublication History
Publication Date:
17 November 2010 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/klinpaed/201102/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-0030-1267932-1.jpg)
Abstract
The study tested whether clown visits would be associated with an increase in psychological and perceived physical well-being of pediatric patients. Patients (6–14 years old) were randomized to a clown visit (n=50) or no-visit control (n=50). Patients and parents were administered a modified version of the KINDL-R questionnaire at pretest, immediately after the clown visit (posttest), and at a 4-h follow-up. The experimental group showed an increase in self-reported and parent-reported psychological well-being at posttest. However, these effects were not maintained at follow-up. There was no effect of the clown visit on perceived physical well-being. It is concluded that clown visits appear to improve psychological well-being of pediatric patients, but the effects may only be short lived.
Zusammenfassung
Die vorliegende Studie testete, ob Clownbesuche mit Verbesserungen des psychischen und wahrgenommenen körperlichen Befindens von pädiatrischen Patienten einhergehen. Patienten (6–14 Jahre) wurden per Zufall einem Clownbesuch (n=50) und einer Kontrollbedingung (n=50) zugeordnet. Die Patienten und Eltern füllten eine modifizierte Version des Kindl-R-Fragebogens zum Prätest, unmittelbar nach dem Clownbesuch (Posttest) und 4 Stunden später (Follow-up) aus. Die Experimentalgruppe zeigte sowohl in den Selbst- und Elternberichten eine Verbesserung des psychischen Befindens im Posttest, die allerdings nicht im Follow-up Bestand hatte. Veränderungen im wahrgenommenen körperlichen Befinden traten nicht auf. Geschlussfolgert wird, dass Clownbesuche das Befinden verbessern können, der Effekt aber nur kurze Zeit Bestand hat.
Key words
clinic clowns - therapeutic clowning - pediatric patients - psychological well-being - physical well-being
Schlüsselwörter
Klinikclowns - therapeutische Clownbesuche - pädiatrische Patienten - psychisches Befinden - körperliches Befinden
References
- 1 Battrick C, Glasper EA, Prudhoe G. et al . Clown humour: the perceptions of doctors, nurses, parents and children. J Children's Young People's Nurs. 2007; 1 174-179
- 2 Bertini M, Isola GP, Curcio G. Clowns benefit children hospitalized for respiratory pathologies. eCAM. 2010; 7
- 3 Birch J, Curtis P, James A. Sense and sensibilities: In search of the child-friendly hospital. Built Environm. 2007; 33 405-416
- 4 Bullinger M, Brütt AL, Erhart M. et al . Psychometric properties of the KINDL-R questionnaire. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008; 17 (Suppl. 1) 125-132
- 5 Cantó MA, Quiles JM, Vallejo OG. et al . Evaluation of the effect of hospital clown's performance about anxiety in children subjected to surgical intervention [in Spanish]. Cirugia Pediatrica. 2008; 21 195-198
- 6 Cohen J. A power primer. Psychol Bull. 1992; 112 155-159
- 7 Dayton L. Healing with humor: Clowns on call bring hugs and happiness. Mich Health Hosp. 1997; 33 16
- 8 Golan G, Tighe P, Dobija N. et al . Clowns for the prevention of preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Anesth. 2009; 19 262-266
- 9 Goldbeck L, Hölling I, Schlack R. et al . The impact of an inpatient family-oriented rehabilitation program on parent-reported psychological symptoms of chronically ill children. Klin Padiatr. 2011; 223 79-84
- 10 Gorfinkle KS, Slater JA, Bagiella E. et al . Child behavioral distress during invasive oncologic procedures and cardiac catheterization with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit. Pediatr Res. 1998; 43 12
- 11 Kingsnorth S, Blain S, McKeever P. Physiological and emotional responses of disabled children to therapeutic clowns: A pilot study. eCAM. 2010; 7
- 12 Koller D, Gryski C. The life threatened child and the life enhancing clown: Towards a model of therapeutic clowning. eCAM. 2008; 5 17-25
- 13 Meisel V, Chellew K, Ponsell E. et al . The effect of «hospital clowns» on distress and maladaptive behaviours of children who are undergoing minor surgery [in Spanish]. Psicothema. 2009; 21 604-609
- 14 Remmick JE, Rashotte J. Psychological outcomes in children following pediatric intensive care unit hospitalization: a systematic review of the research. J Child Health Care. 2009; 13 28-149
- 15 Smerling AJ, Skolnick E, Bagiella E. et al . Perioperative clown therapy for pediatric patients. Anesth Anal. 1999; 88 S3065
- 16 Spitzer P. Hospital clowns – modern-day court jesters at work. Lancet. 2006; 368 34-35
- 17 Vagnoli L, Bastiani C, Turchi F. et al . Preoperative anxiety in pediatrics: is clown's intervention effective to alleviate children discomfort?. Algia Hospitales. 2007; 2 114-119
- 18 Vagnoli L, Caprilli S, Robiglio A. et al . Clown doctors as a treatment for preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized, prospective study. Pediatrics. 2005; 116 563-567
- 19 Weaver K, Prudhoe G, Battrick C. et al . Sick children's perceptions of clown doctor humour. J Child Young People's Nurs. 2007; 1 359-365
- 20 Wilson ME, Megel ME, Enenbach L. et al . The voices of children: Stories about hospitalization. J Pediatr Health Care. 2010; 24 95-102
- 21 Peeters J, Meitert J, Paulides M. et al . Health-related quality of life in ALL-patients treated with chemotherapy only – A report from the late effects surveillance system in Germany. Klin Padiatr. 2009; 221 156-161
- 22 Wood C, Magnello ME. Diurnal changes in perceptions of energy and mood. J R Soc Med. 1992; 85 191-194
Correspondence
Prof. Dr. habil. Martin Pinquart
Philipps-Universität
Psychologie
Gutenbergstraße 18
35032 Marburg
Germany
Phone: +49/6421/282 3626
Fax: +49/6421/282 3685
Email: pinquart@staff.uni-marburg.de