Palhaços: uma revisão acerca do uso dessa máscara no ambiente hospitalarPayasos: una revisiónsobre el uso de esa máscara en el ambiente hospitalario

Abstract

Groups of voluntary or professional artists have been formed in order to visit patients in hospitals around the world, as clowns, using humor as a tool to promote the care and recovery process. There are few studies on this topic in the scientific literature. Thus, construction of a theoretical field that is able to support this activity is only just beginning. Therefore, we conducted a bibliographic review based on 33 papers about different clown groups acting in different hospitals worldwide, in order to better comprehend how these visits take place and how they can effectively achieve good results. It was observed that these encounters can establish deep relationships that are capable of creating new meanings for the hospital environment, empowering patients and serving as a relationship model for all the healthcare staff involved.

Effectiveness of hospital clowns for symptom management in paediatrics: systematic review of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials

“…Since the emergence of hospital clowns in North America in the 1980s, it has become a popular practice in paediatric settings, mainly in acute and rehabilitation hospitals worldwide 14. Hospital clowns have a positive effect on paediatric patient outcomes, mainly in patients with acute conditions and during medical procedures 14151617181920. Hospital clowns are also increasingly thought to have a complementary role in healthcare by easing the recovery of these patients 1415…”

Magic Lab Coat: art as a mechanism of action for care and teaching in health/ Mágica bata de laboratório: a arte como mecanismo de ação para o cuidado e o ensino em saúde

“…The figure of the clown, as we know refers to 18th-century in Europe and the circus culture [15]. The comic figure based on the logic of the misfit fool is globally disseminated historically and geographically.…”

“…By the association in contemporary times with joy and relaxedness, the clown finds himself as a symbol for such feelings, evoking them in most people due to their unique and extravagant characteristics. Started in 1986 by the Group Big Apple Clown Circus Care Unit [15], the dynamics of introducing clowns and figures cheerfully characterized in a hospital environment was quickly seen as successful, spreading rapidly around the world. In Brazil, the first group to incorporate the idea was the Doctors of Joy in 1991, facilitating the dissemination of this practice in the national territory [16].…”

“…Due to the psychological and emotional mechanisms involved in these benefits, there is a lack of quantitative scientific evidence that better proves such effects. However, a vast number of subjective analyses elucidates the impact of this activity, such as: the resignification of the hospital and medical environment [15], the better communication with patients, improvement of patient's medical relationship, greater receptivity to treatment, reduction of negative feelings such as anxiety, stress, and depression. On the other hand, the development of artistic skills in medical students (musical, scenic, improvisation and others), strongly "open" their feeling regarding humanization and contributes to the improvement of communicational abilities and empathy [16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

Através do nariz vermelho: a identidade do palhaço terapêutico

“…Proposta difundida em diversos países por meio de Michael Christensen, um dos fundadores do projeto Big Apple Circus. Posteriormente trazida ao Brasil por um de seus membros, o ator Wellington Nogueira, que fundou os "Doutores da Alegria", na década de 90 (Almeida, 2012;Brito et al, 2016;Doutores da Alegria [da], 2016;Hart & Walton, 2010;Masetti et al, 2013;Sato et al, 2016;Takahagui et al, 2014).…”