TY - JOUR
T1 - The Use of Medical Clowns as a Psychological Distress Buffer During Anogenital Examination of Sexually Abused Children
AU - Tener, Dafna
AU - Lang-Franco, Nessia
AU - Ofir, Shoshi
AU - Lev-Wiesel, Rachel
N1 - Funding Information: Received 23 May 2010; accepted 17 February 2011. This study was supported (in part) by Grant 000005561-3 from the Chief Scientist Office of the Ministry of Health, Israel. Address correspondence to Dafna Tener, TENE Center for Sexually Abused Children, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Poria-Padeh Medical Center, Tiberias, Israel 15208. E-mail: dtener@gmail.com
PY - 2012/1/1
Y1 - 2012/1/1
N2 - This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of medical clowns on psychological distress during pediatric anogenital examinations. A convenience sample of 30 allegedly sexually abused minors ranging in age from 1 to 17 years (M = 10.57, SD = 4.71) was recruited among children at a medical center for sexually abused children in Israel. Parents and children completed self-report questionnaires consisting of two measures: the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Scale and an evaluation scale regarding the role of and experience with medical clowns. Results indicated that children accompanied by a medical clown during examination expressed less fear, reported lower pain levels, and had fewer invasive thoughts.
AB - This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of medical clowns on psychological distress during pediatric anogenital examinations. A convenience sample of 30 allegedly sexually abused minors ranging in age from 1 to 17 years (M = 10.57, SD = 4.71) was recruited among children at a medical center for sexually abused children in Israel. Parents and children completed self-report questionnaires consisting of two measures: the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Scale and an evaluation scale regarding the role of and experience with medical clowns. Results indicated that children accompanied by a medical clown during examination expressed less fear, reported lower pain levels, and had fewer invasive thoughts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855500561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2011.578025
DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2011.578025
M3 - Article
SN - 1532-5024
VL - 17
SP - 12
EP - 22
JO - Journal of Loss and Trauma
JF - Journal of Loss and Trauma
IS - 1
ER -
