Peer Reviewed
Forum

Clown doctoring: more than just clowning around

Ann T Gregory
Abstract
A ward round of a different kind: doctors in white coats but with scooters and hooters instead of stethoscopes and ball-point pens. The Humour Foundation’s clown doctors visit children in hospital, bringing joy and laughter. But it’s more than just clowning around: humour has been shown to reduce pain, postoperative complication rates and time to discharge.
Key Points

    A nasogastric tube welded to his small face, the boy is too ill to move. A male nurse wheels him ever so carefully down a carpeted hospital corridor. The boy’s parents follow closely behind.

    Two figures approach, dressed in long, white, badge-adorned coats, floppy hats and baggy, multicoloured pants. They speak to the boy by name. They’ve met him before.

    ‘Shall we play him a song?’, asks one clown of the other.

    ‘What a good idea’, the other agrees.

    The strains of You are my Sunshine issue from kazoo and a miniature, semiautomatic violin. The boy’s eyes stare at – or is it through? – the clowns.

Get full access
Subscribe for full access to all articles
Buy this article

Single article purchases are temporarily unavailable due to site maintenance.

If you would like to purchase an article during this time, please email us at [email protected] with the article details and we'll assist you directly. We'll also let you know when online purchasing is available again.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Already a subscriber?