Children and teenagers suffering from pneumonia experience shorter hospital stays when visited by medical clowns, who play a vital role in reducing heart rates and promoting independence during treatment.
Previous studies have demonstrated that visits from medical clowns can significantly alleviate stress and anxiety in young patients. Now, new research led by a team at the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, zooms in on their specific impact on hospitalized children with pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs.
The research involved 26 children and teenagers aged 2 to 18, who were randomly assigned to receive 15-minute visits from medical clowns twice a day for up to two days. In comparison, another group of 25 young patients received standard care without clown visits.
During the visits, the clowns engaged the children with singing and music while encouraging them to eat and drink independently, shifting from initially receiving nutrients through tubes. The results revealed that children visited by clowns had an average hospital stay of 44 hours, compared to 70 hours for those without clown visits. These compelling findings were presented at the recent European Respiratory Society congress in Vienna, Austria.
Medical staff, unaware of which patients received clown interventions, made discharge decisions based on improvements in breathing, heart rates, and the ability of patients to eat and drink on their own, suggesting readiness for outpatient care.
Experts suggest that the playful interactions likely facilitated recovery by reducing blood pressure and enhancing mood and energy levels. The study highlights the potential for play to boost young patients’ confidence and overall well-being.
Future research is encouraged to involve larger cohorts of children with various health conditions across multiple hospitals to further evaluate the effectiveness of medical clown interventions.
