CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Red nose, colorful hair, and glasses with a big frame, lovely “clown doctors” appeared in the hall and outpatient wards of the Pediatric Out-patient Department of Daping Hospital. They dispersed the anxious atmosphere with their hilarious costumes and fun toys, making a “happiness prescription” for sick kids with their humor and childlike fun. 

Hospitals frighten the kids. In early November this year, the Army Specialty Medical Center of the Third Military Medical University, namely, Daping Hospital, put forward, for the first time, the concept of “clown doctor”, which let nurses cosplay cartoon characters like the clown and Mickey Mouse. Through humor therapy, doctors can mitigate the anxiety and fear of the sick kids in a way that warms their hearts. Sun Qingdai, Head Nurse of the Pediatric Out-patient Department of Daping Hospital, put on a red nose, colorful hair, turning himself into a “clown”. After that, she helped the intern, Wang Xiaofang, put on her George Pig Costume. With everything ready, here came the “clowns”.

In the hall of the Pediatric Out-patient Department, parents were so anxious while waiting in line, so they felt anxious and depressed. That was when “clown doctors” showed up. Kids, circling around the “clown doctors”, talked to and played games with them. Suddenly, the stressed nerves relaxed.

The 4-year-old Haonan (alias) was afraid of injection, and he couldn’t stop crying. When the “clown doctors” showed up, it was wonderful that the kid stopped crying. With the comfort of the “clown doctor”, Haonan started to cooperate. The “clown doctor” gave him an award of one hard candy for his bravery. 

The little girl Kuokuo came to the hospital for spray therapy for coughing. After seeing George Pig, she couldn’t help touching the big nose of “George”. “Clown doctor” Sun Qing’s son is a first grader. She told the reporter that it was more heart-breaking to see a sick kid than a sick adult. When she turned into a “clown doctor” and interacted with kids, she was so happy that she could bring comfort and smile to these kids.

Sun Qing said, the “clown doctor” required not just the costumes, but also a great deal of knowledge, including medical knowledge of nursing, psychology, physiotherapy, medical history as well as drama performance. A real “clown doctor” can be a good “doctor”, and an excellent “clown”. Wang Xiaofang is 21 years old this year and her internship in Daping Hospital is less than two months. She learned nothing about the “clown doctor” in school, so she was not very professional in performing a “clown doctor”. At that time, she was standing at the hall door and observing, looking forward to an opportunity to interact with kids. 

Daping Hospital has been practicing the “clown doctor” for nearly a month. Counting in nurses like Wang Xiaofang, there are over 20 “clown doctors”. For when to and who should dress up, there is no such a specific regulation. Now, the Hospital has three costumes, and whoever available can dress them on. At first, putting on these cartoon costumes, “clown doctors” feel uncomfortable and hard to breathe. After getting used to them, they feel that they can not only bring warm and strength for the sick kids, and feel happy and relaxed themselves.

After staying at the Hospital for the whole afternoon, Liangliang (alias) finally finished his hospital tour. He waved a hand and said goodbye to the “clown doctors” happily, unwilling to leave them. Liangliang’s mother said, before, every time he came to the Hospital, not only the child would cry a lot, but also the parents would be in anxiety. But this time, Liangliang not only didn’t cry, but also said thanks to the “clown doctors”. 

According to research, the “power of humor” indeed can bring about a certain amount of medical effect. It can help divert patients’ attention, so as to mitigate the pain, especially for kids who just finished their operation. They need not only the rehabilitation therapy, but only something to mitigate the psychological shadow brought by the pain, where the “clown doctors” can play their roles. 

After two hours in the costumes, Sun Qing and Wang Xiaofang could unfix their costumes to have a rest. They were discussing the experience of interacting with kids that day. Happiness is the “good medicine” that can cure the disease. The warm “love” of the “clown doctors” warmed the pediatric offices, delivering a feeling to kids and parents more than nervousness and anxiety. (Translated by Zhou Tuo, Fathom Language Limited)