Page 27 - Pharma News Letter Vol1 Issue2 - Converted By Dr. Ahmed Rashed

Trends, insights, and news
The Emerging
Concept of
Medical
Clowning
For many patients, the medical environment
can be a significant source of stress. In
particular, medical procedures that involve
needles can cause fear, anxiety, and distress,
especially in children. These emotions not
only increase pain but can also interfere with
the medical procedure.
A medical clown is a trained professional
who uses humor, play, and other forms of
entertainment to help reduce stress, anxiety,
and fear in patients, particularly children, who
are undergoing medical treatment. Medical
clowns work in hospitals, clinics, and other
healthcare settings, and they often collaborate
with healthcare providers to help improve the
overall patient experience.
Medical clowning is based on the principle
that laughter and play can have a positive
impact on a patient’s physical, emotional, and
mental well-being. Medical clowns use a range
of techniques, including music, storytelling,
magic tricks, and physical comedy, to engage
with patients and help create a more positive
and relaxed environment.
Most recently, a meta-analysis study was
published on April 14, 2023 in the World Journal
of Pediatrics (WJP) that aimed to evaluate the
efficiency of medical clowns in reducing pain
and anxiety in hospitalized pediatric patients
and their parents in different medical fields.
A total of 912 children (14 studies) showed
significantly reduced anxiety when procedures
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