Seriously clowning: Medical clowning interaction with children undergoing invasive examinations in hospitals |
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| Authors: | Dafna Tener Shoshi Ofir Rachel Lev-Wiesel Nessia L. Franco Avi On |
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| Affiliation: | 1. The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israeldtener@gmail.com;3. The Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Israel;4. The Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel;5. Pediatric GI Unit, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, The Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel |
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| Abstract: | This qualitative study examined the subjective experience of children undergoing an invasive examination in the hospital when accompanied by a medical clown. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine such children and nine of their accompanying parents. The children were patients in two outpatient departments (Pediatric Gastroenterology and a Center for the Sexually Abused) in a hospital in Israel. Interviews were coded thematically using an Atlas.ti software program. Analysis of the interviews indicated that the intervention of the clown positively changed the children’s perceptions of the hospital, of experiencing the examination, and of their life narrative. Medical clowns thus appear to be a central, meaningful, and therapeutic source for children undergoing invasive examinations in hospital, as well as for their parents. Therefore, it may be advisable to incorporate medical clowns as an integral part of medical teams performing invasive procedures and to include the clowns in all stages of the hospital visit. |
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| Keywords: | Child sexual abuse invasive examinations medical clowning mental health pediatrics psychosocial intervention |
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