The experience of long-stay patients in a forensic psychiatric hospital in China: a qualitative study

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

Background Most existing research on medical clowns in health care services has investigated their usefulness mainly among child health consumers. In this research we examined multiple viewpoints of medical staff, clowns, and health consumers aiming to identify the optimal audience (adult or child health consumers) for which medical clowns are most useful. We focused on exploring their usefulness in enhancing health consumers’ satisfaction and, in turn, reducing their aggressive tendencies. Methods We conducted three studies that examined the placement fit of medical clowns from different points of view: medical staff (Study 1, n = 88), medical clowns (Study 2, n = 20), and health consumers (Study 3, n = 397). The main analyses in Studies 1 and 2 included frequencies and t-tests comparing perceived adult and child satisfaction with clowns’ performance. Study 3 used moderated-mediation PROCESS bootstrapping regression analysis to test the indirect effect of negative affectivity on aggressive tendencies via satisfaction. Exposure to the medical clown moderated this relationship differently for different ages. Results Studies 1 and 2 show that the majority of medical clowns and medical staff report that the current placement of the medical clowns is in pediatric wards; about half (44% of medical staff, 54% of medical clowns) thought that this placement policy should change. In Study 3, data from health consumers in seven different hospital wards showed that clowns are useful in mitigating the effect of negative affectivity on satisfaction, thereby reducing aggressive tendencies among health consumers under the age of 21.6 years. Surprisingly, medical clowns had the opposite effect on most adults: for health consumers who were exposed to the medical clown and were above the age of 21.6 negative affectivity was related to decreased satisfaction, and an increase in aggressive tendencies was observed. Discussion Medical clowns are most useful in elevating satisfaction and reducing aggressive tendencies of children. Older adults, on the other hand, exhibit lower satisfaction and higher aggressive tendencies following exposure to the performance of medical clowns. Conclusion Medical clowns should be placed primarily in children’s wards.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the usefulness of medical clowns in elevating satisfaction and reducing aggressive tendencies in pediatric and adult hospital wards

Efrat-Triester

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

“…Negative affectivity includes a spectrum of negative emotions, ranging from anger to fear, to annoyance and anxiety (49). These negative emotions paint the health consumers' experience (15,59). and lower their satisfaction with the service organization (60), which if low, can even elicit their tendency to behave aggressively.…”

Section: Health Consumer Satisfaction and Aggressive Tendenciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 360-Degree Examination of the Placement Fit of Medical Clowns

Efrat‐Treister

et al. 2020

Preprint

Background – Most existing research on medical clowns in health care service has investigated their usefulness among child health consumers. In a 360-degree research stream, we aim to identify the optimal audience (adults or children health consumers), for which medical clowns are most useful in enhancing health consumers’ satisfaction and, in turn, reducing their aggressive tendencies.Methods – We conducted three studies, which examined the placement fit of medical clowns from a different point of view: medical staff (Study 1a, n = 88), medical clowns (Study 1b, n = 20), and health consumers (Study 2, n = 397).Results – Studies 1a and 1b demonstrate that both medical staff and clowns believe that child health consumers profit most from the clowns. In Study 2, data from health consumers in seven different hospital wards showed that clowns are useful in mitigating the effect of negative affectivity on satisfaction, thereby reducing aggressive tendencies among children. Surprisingly, the effect of medical clowns on adults is not only weaker, but reversed, such that interactions with medical clowns decrease adults’ satisfaction and increase their aggressive tendencies.Discussion - The medical clowns are most useful in elevating satisfaction and reducing aggressive tendencies of children. However, older adults show lower satisfaction and higher aggressive tendencies following the performance of the medical clown. The main limitation of the study is investigating aggressive tendencies rather than actual aggression. Future research should examine actual aggression.Conclusion – Medical clowns should be placed in children’s wards. This conclusion can guide health care service policy makers by indicating the optimal placement of clowns, thereby benefitting most from the clowns’ efforts, elevating health consumer satisfaction, and reducing aggressive tendencies.Trial registration – article doesn’t report a health care intervention on human participants.

“…Negative affectivity includes a spectrum of negative emotions, ranging from anger to fear, to annoyance and anxiety (59). These negative emotions paint the health consumers' experience (19,70) and lower their satisfaction with the service organization (71), which if low, can even elicit their tendency to behave aggressively. As the overall goal of the study was to identify the optimal health care audience (adults or children) that will bene t most from medical clowns, we examined speci cally whether medical clowns can buffer the harmful effect of negative affectivity on health consumer satisfaction, and whether this buffering effect depends on the age of the health consumer audience.…”

Section: Health Consumer Satisfaction and Aggressive Tendenciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Usefulness of Medical Clowns in Elevating Satisfaction and Reducing Aggressive Tendencies in Pediatric and Adult Hospital Wards 

Efrat‐Treister

et al. 2020

Preprint

Background – Most existing research on medical clowns in health care services has investigated their usefulness mainly among child health consumers. In this research we examined multiple viewpoints of medical staff, clowns, and health consumers aiming to identify the optimal audience (adult or child health consumers) for which medical clowns are most useful. We focused on exploring their usefulness in enhancing health consumers’ satisfaction and, in turn, reducing their aggressive tendencies. Methods – We conducted three studies that examined the placement fit of medical clowns from different points of view: medical staff (Study 1, n = 88), medical clowns (Study 2, n = 20), and health consumers (Study 3, n = 397). The main analyses in Studies 1 and 2 included frequencies and t-tests comparing perceived adult and child satisfaction with clowns’ performance. Study 3 used moderated-mediation PROCESS bootstrapping regression analysis to test the indirect effect of negative affectivity on aggressive tendencies via satisfaction. Exposure to the medical clown moderated this relationship differently for different ages.Results – Studies 1 and 2 show that the majority of medical clowns and medical staff report that the current placement of the medical clowns is in pediatric wards; about half (44% of medical staff, 54% of medical clowns) thought that this placement policy should change. In Study 3, data from health consumers in seven different hospital wards showed that clowns are useful in mitigating the effect of negative affectivity on satisfaction, thereby reducing aggressive tendencies among health consumers under the age of 21.6 years . Surprisingly, medical clowns had the opposite effect on most adults: for health consumers who were exposed to the medical clown and were above the age of 21.6 negative affectivity was related to decreased satisfaction, and an increase in aggressive tendencies was observed. Discussion - Medical clowns are most useful in elevating satisfaction and reducing aggressive tendencies of children. Older adults, on the other hand, exhibit lower satisfaction and higher aggressive tendencies following exposure to the performance of medical clowns. Conclusion – Medical clowns should be placed primarily in children’s wards.