Clown Visits Reduce Children’s Hospital Stay

Children and teenagers with pneumonia may benefit from visits by a medical clown, as it appears to reduce their hospital stay duration and promote independence by lowering heart rates.

The positive impact of medical clowns on reducing stress and anxiety in young patients has been previously documented. Research led by Karin Yaacoby-Bianu at the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, specifically focused on children hospitalized with pneumonia.

In a study involving 26 children and teenagers with pneumonia, clown visits were compared to standard care for 15 minutes, twice daily. Results showed that those visited by clowns had a shorter average hospital stay of 44 hours compared to 70 hours for those without clown visits.

Medical clowns engaged participants in activities like singing, music, and encouraged self-feeding, resulting in improvements that led to early discharge. The use of play therapy, as noted by Kelsey Graber from the University of Cambridge, has shown positive effects on well-being, mood, and confidence in children and teenagers.

Further research in larger groups across different conditions and hospitals is suggested for a comprehensive understanding of the impact of medical clowns.