Medical Clown Can Reduce Hospitalization Duration in Acute Viral Gastroenteritis- A prospective study

Purpose: The treatment of in-patient acute viral gastroenteritis (AGE) is mostly supportive with parenteral hydration and antipyretics. Base of the resent understanding that positive thinking can improve general wellbeing we integrated medical clown in the in-patent treatment of AGE. In this novel study we utilized medical clown into the treatment of AGE in a innovative manner.

Methods: Twenty children aged 2-10 years who were hospitalized due to AGE were included in this study. One child was excluded due to diagnosis of viral meningitis. Thirteen children met a medical clown twice a day during their hospitalization for 15 minutes each time. The other 6 children served as a control group. The mood at the admission and at the discharge was evaluated using a questionnaire. The hospitalization time was measured by the computerized file. The need for pain medications, the ability to maintain oral intake, and complications of AGE were also recorded.

Results: The improvement of the mood was greater in the medical clowns group (p=0.04). The hospitalization time was not shorter in this group, there were no significant changes between the groups in the need for pain medications, and the ability to maintain oral intake. There were no complications of AGE in both groups.

Conclusion: Medical clowns contribute to the mood improvement in hospitalized children with AGE. The hospitalization duration was not shorter in children who met medical clowns, but a larger volume of children may change this result.