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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06750029

How Does Medical Clown Intervention Affect the Length of Hospitalization in Children With Pneumonia

Background and Objectives: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of hospitalization in children. The hospitalization duration depends on factors as child's well-being, vital signs, need for parenteral treatments, and development of complications. Medical clowns (MCs) are known to assist in reducing pain and alleviating anxiety and have been integrated into many aspects of hospital treatment routines. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of MC intervention on length of hospitalization in children admitted with CAP.

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Key information

Conditions

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Community-Acquired Infections Community-Acquired Pneumonia Infections Pneumonia Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections

Age range

2 year–18 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Carmel Medical Center

Haifa, Israel

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical diagnosis of pneumonia.
  • Ages 2-18 years.

Exclusion criteria

  • Hemodynamically unstable patients.
  • Other systemic comorbidities or chronic respiratory diseases
  • Children from families unable to comprehend and sign an informed consent form.

Treatment and study plan

Medical clown visits

Other

The intervention is 15-minute visits from MCs twice daily during the first two days of admission. The clowns use various techniques to relax the patients (e.g. music, singing, playing, humor, guided imagination) and helpe encourage children to begin drinking and eating on their own.

Other names: Medical Clown

Primary outcomes

  1. The length of hospitalization in hours

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    The length of hospitalization in hours is determined by the duration between admission and discharge from the pediatric department.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Duration of IV treatment

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Duration of IV treatment in hours.

Other outcomes

  1. Changes in well-being scores as reported by both the parent and the treating physician.

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Changes in well-being scores as reported by both the parent and the treating physician, and alterations in vital signs and laboratory results.

  2. Alterations in Heart rate

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Alterations in Heart rate

  3. Alterations in body temperature

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Alterations in body temperature

  4. Alterations in Respiratory rate

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Alterations in Respiratory rate

  5. Alterations in oxygen saturation

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Alterations in oxygen saturation

  6. Alterations in white blood cell count

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Alterations in white blood cell count

  7. Alterations in absolute neutrophil count

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Alterations in absolute neutrophil count

  8. Alterations in C-reactive protein levels

    Time frame: Immediately after the intervention

    Alterations in C-reactive protein levels

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Carmel Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Dec 27, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 27, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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