# Clown care

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Health care by specially trained clowns

A clown care troupe at service at the hospital Bambino Gesù in Italy.

**Clown Care**, also known as **hospital clowning**, is a program in health care facilities involving visits from specially trained [clowns](/source/Clown). They are colloquially called "clown doctors" which is a trademarked name in several countries. These visits to hospitals have been shown to help in lifting patients' [moods](/source/Mood_(psychology)) with the positive power of [hope](/source/Hope) and [humor](/source/Humor). There is also an associated positive benefit to the staff and families of patients.[1]

## Background

[Patch Adams](/source/Patch_Adams), considered the first hospital clown, started being a hospital clown in the 1970s. He was portrayed in the 1998 film *[Patch Adams](/source/Patch_Adams_(film))* by [Robin Williams](/source/Robin_Williams), bringing attention to hospital clowning.[2]

Professional Clown Doctors began working in hospitals in 1986 under a program called [the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit](/source/The_Big_Apple_Circus), which was started by Michael Christensen in [New York City](/source/New_York_City). Clown Doctor programs now operate in every state in [Australia](/source/Australia), [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand),[3] the [United States](/source/United_States), the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom), [Canada](/source/Canada), [Israel](/source/Israel), [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong), [Brazil](/source/Brazil), [Belarus](/source/Belarus), [Taiwan](/source/Taiwan)[4] and all over [Europe](/source/Europe) and in some parts of [India](/source/India).[2]

## Purpose

See also: [Biopsychosocial model](/source/Biopsychosocial_model)

Clown Doctors attend specifically to the [psycho-social](/source/Psychosocial) needs of the hospitalized child but in some hospitals they also visit adults.[5] They parody the hospital routine to help children adapt to their surroundings, they also distract from and demystify painful or frightening procedures.[6] The atmosphere of fun and laughter can help children forget about the illness and the stress for a moment.

Clown Doctors use techniques such as magic, music, storytelling and other clowning skills to empower children with doses of fun that help them deal with the range of emotions they may experience while in hospital: fear, anxiety,[7][8] loneliness, boredom.

According to Tan, Metsälä, and Hannula,[9] "Clown care creates a positive emotional state, promotes interaction between parents and child, and fosters affirmative environmental conditions."

## Research

Main article: [Humor research](/source/Humor_research)

Research on the physiological health benefits of laughter has been conducted for decades and continues to be carried out by medical physicians internationally. There is also a growing group of researchers that are exploring the psychological benefits of laughter, and specifically the work of Clown-Doctors.[10][11][12][13]

## See also

- [Theodora Children's Charity](/source/Theodora_Children's_Charity)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Battrick, Cath; Glasper, Edward Alan; Prudhoe, Gill; Weaver, Katy (2007). "Clown Humour: The Perceptions of Doctors, Nurses, Parents and Children". *[Journal of Children's and Young People's Nursing](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Journal_of_Children%27s_and_Young_People%27s_Nursing&action=edit&redlink=1)*. **1** (4). [MA Healthcare Ltd](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MA_Healthcare_Ltd&action=edit&redlink=1): 174–179. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.12968/jcyn.2007.1.4.24403](https://doi.org/10.12968%2Fjcyn.2007.1.4.24403). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2052-2886](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2052-2886).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) Farrell, Melinda. ["History of Clowning"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170105215538/http://www.humourfoundation.com.au/resources/history-of-clowning.html). *Humour Foundation*. Archived from [the original](http://www.humourfoundation.com.au/resources/history-of-clowning.html) on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2017-01-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Mora, Jim (July 14, 2009). ["Clown Doctors"](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2005278/clown-doctors). *[Radio New Zealand National](/source/Radio_New_Zealand_National)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["紅鼻子醫生 Dr.Rednose – 台灣唯一專業中立的小丑醫生組織"](https://drn.org.tw/) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2020-10-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Nuttman-Shwartz, Orit; Scheyer, Rachel; Herzl, Tzioni (2010). Seon Lee, Ji (ed.). ["Medical Clowning: Even Adults Deserve a Dream"](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00981380903520475). *[Social Work in Health Care](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_Work_in_Health_Care&action=edit&redlink=1)*. **49** (6). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/00981380903520475](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F00981380903520475).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Tener, Dafna; Lev-Wiesel, Rachel; Lang-Franco, Nessia; Ofir, Shoshi (2010). "Laughing Through This Pain: Medical Clowning During Examination of Sexually Abused Children: An Innovative Approach". *[Journal of Child Sexual Abuse](/source/Journal_of_Child_Sexual_Abuse)*. **19** (2): 128–140. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/10538711003622752](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10538711003622752). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [20390783](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20390783).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Vagnoli, Laura; Caprilli, Simona; Robiglio, Arianna; Messeri, Andrea (2005). "Clown Doctors as a Treatment for Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Randomized, Prospective Study". *[Pediatrics](/source/Pediatrics_(journal))*. **116** (4): 563–567. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1542/peds.2005-0466](https://doi.org/10.1542%2Fpeds.2005-0466). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [16199685](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16199685).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Golan, G; Tighe, P; Dobija, N; Perel, N; Keidan, I (2009). "Clowns for the Prevention of Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial". *[Pediatric Anesthesia](/source/Pediatric_Anesthesia)*. **19** (3): 262–266. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1460-9592.2008.02903.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1460-9592.2008.02903.x). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [19143948](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19143948).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Tan, Amil Kusain Perez Jr.; Metsälä, Eija; Hannula, Leena (2014). ["Benefits and barriers of clown care: A qualitative phenomenographical study of parents with children in clown care services"](https://europeanjournalofhumour.org/index.php/ejhr/article/view/58). *[The European Journal of Humour Research](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_European_Journal_of_Humour_Research&action=edit&redlink=1)*. **2** (2): 10 pp. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.7592/EJHR2014.2.2.tan](https://doi.org/10.7592%2FEJHR2014.2.2.tan). Retrieved June 3, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Nicklaus Childrens, Big Apple Circus Clown Care® Celebrates 15 Years of Bringing Smiles to Hospitalized Children"](https://www.nicklauschildrens.org/news-and-events/press-releases/big-apple-circus-clown-care-celebrates-15-years). [Nicklaus Children's Hospital](/source/Nicklaus_Children's_Hospital). November 4, 2015. Retrieved 2025-03-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Alberto Dionigi. ["Clown as interpreters of emotions"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215310/http://www.simplycircus.com/sites/default/files/4_3.pdf) (PDF). P.A.T. Group, Department of Psychology, [University of Bologna](/source/University_of_Bologna). Archived from [the original](http://www.simplycircus.com/sites/default/files/4_3.pdf) (PDF) on 2016-10-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Red Noses, The first Clowndoctor 'on a visit' with RED NOSES, Michael Christensen"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180814064152/http://www.rednoses.eu/news/interview-michael-christensen/#.WAU1KyRmVLI). *Red Noses*. Archived from [the original](http://www.rednoses.eu/news/interview-michael-christensen/#.WAU1KyRmVLI) on 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2016-10-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Melvin, Glenn; Hofmann, Jovell Ling; Pavlou, Christine; Lu, Sinh; Verstandig, Stephanie; Taylor, Ashleigh; Desilva, Deandra; Cameron, Lauren; Evans, Subhadra (2025-02-01). ["The Impacts of a Clown Doctor Program on an Adolescent Psychiatric Unit: A Mixed Methods Investigation"](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-023-01545-6). *Child Psychiatry & Human Development*. **56** (1): 142–152. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s10578-023-01545-6](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10578-023-01545-6). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1573-3327](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1573-3327). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [11828834](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11828834). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [37227620](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37227620).

## Further reading

- Clark, Cindy Dell (2013). "A Clown Most Serious: Patch Adams". *[International Journal of Play](/source/International_Journal_of_Play)*. **2** (3): 163–173. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/21594937.2013.849139](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F21594937.2013.849139).

- Linge, Lotta (2008). ["Hospital Clowns Working in Pairs - In Synchronized Communication with Ailing Children"](http://www.ijqhw.net/index.php/qhw/article/view/4969/5237). *[International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being](/source/International_Journal_of_Qualitative_Studies_on_Health_and_Well-being)*. **3** (1): 27–38. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/17482620701794147](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F17482620701794147).

- Miller Van Blerkom, Linda (1995). ["Clown Doctors: Shaman Healers of Western Medicine"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150226054326/http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/files/2012/06/Blerkom-Clown-Doctors-Shaman-healers-of-western-medicine.pdf) (PDF). *[Medical Anthropology Quarterly](/source/Medical_Anthropology_Quarterly)*. **9** (4): 462–475. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1525/maq.1995.9.4.02a00030](https://doi.org/10.1525%2Fmaq.1995.9.4.02a00030). Archived from [the original](http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/files/2012/06/Blerkom-Clown-Doctors-Shaman-healers-of-western-medicine.pdf) (PDF) on 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2015-04-23.

- Watson, Simon (2008). ["Clowning Around Sets Patients at Ease"](https://www.cmaj.ca/content/179/4/313). *[Canadian Medical Association Journal](/source/Canadian_Medical_Association_Journal)*. **179** (4): 313–315. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1503/cmaj.080691](https://doi.org/10.1503%2Fcmaj.080691). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [2492963](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2492963). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [18695174](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18695174).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Clown care](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Clown_care).

Look up ***[clown doctor](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/clown_doctor)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

- Dr. Peter Spitzer (2002). ["Clown Doctors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060520002309/http://e-bility.com/articles/clowndoctors.shtml). The Humour Foundation, Churchill Fellow. Archived from [the original](http://e-bility.com/articles/clowndoctors.shtml) on 2006-05-20.

- [Documentary Film "I Clown You"](http://www.iclownyoudoc.com/)

v t e Clowns List of clowns / List of jesters Types Blackface Bouffon Canadian Chou Circus Contemporary Evil Harlequin Harlequinade Heyoka Jester Mime Pierrot Pueblo Ritual Rodeo Scaramouche Silly Billy Skomorokh Organizations Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army Clown Conservatory Clowns of America International Clowns Gallery-Museum International Clown Hall of Fame Loldiers of Odin Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College World Clown Association World Festival of Clowns in Yekaterinburg Related 2016 clown sightings Clown alley Clown bicycle Clown car Clown Care Clown ministry Clown society Coulrophilia International Clown Week Motley Toronto circus riot Documentaries The Clowns (1970) Category

Authority control databases: National Latvia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Clown care](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clown_care) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clown_care?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.