Laughing Through This Pain: Medical Clowning During Examination of Sexually Abused Children: An Innovative Approach

• NCJ Number: 230667
• Journal: Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2010 Pages: 128-140
• Author(s): Dafna Tener; Rachel Lev-Wiesel; Nessia Lang Franco; Shoshi Ofir
• Date Published: March 2010
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the role of medical clowns during medical examinations of children who were sexually abused.

Abstract

Three case studies are described, illustrating diverse interactions among the victimized child, the medical clown, and the medical forensical examiner during medical forensic examinations held at the Tene Center for Sexually Abused Children, Poria-Pade Medical Center, Israel. The results indicated that medical clowns play a unique role both in lowering anxiety and fear among children before and during the unpleasant forensic examination as well as in mitigating potential retraumatization of the sexual abuse event resulting from the medical examination. The medical clown was found to assist in creating a pleasant and calm atmosphere, thus improving the child's cooperation during the examination. References (Published Abstract)