Healing hearts: laughter and learning.
BACKGROUND
Cultural values of Alaska Native people acknowledge laughter as good medicine. It is heard in their words and stories.


METHODS
To investigate how and in what ways laughter impacts learning from the learners' perspective, cancer education course evaluations were reviewed and a survey administered.


RESULTS
94% (235/259) of Community Health Aides and Community Health Practitioners surveyed emphasized the importance of laughter to support adult learning. Written comments are grouped into three main themes: (1) supporting a comfortable learning community, (2) relieving stress, and (3) enhancing learning.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the value and significance of laughter to support people in their learning journey.
Cueva
Melany
M
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchor-age, AK 99508, USA. mcueva@anmc.org
Kuhnley
Regina
R
Lanier
Anne
A
Dignan
Mark
M
D000413:Alaska / Q000208:ethnology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit / Q000523:psychology; D007845:Laughter / Q000523:psychology*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic