Salivary Cortisol Levels: The Importance of Clown Doctors to Reduce Stress.
This study was designed to correlate entertainment of clown-doctors (CD) activities on hospitalized children and aphysiological bio-marker. For this purpose we collected saliva samples and verified children satisfaction with these activities by using a visual analog scale (VAS). Children from 6 to 7 years-old, with diagnosis of any acute pathology, interned in the Pediatric Ward of the Botucatu Medical School Hospital (São Paulo, Brazil) were interviewed. Two groups were taken into consideration: lunchCD and dinnerCD. The following protocol was applied in each group (lunch and dinner): collection of the first saliva sample and presentation of VAS prior to CD activities, followed by collection of a second saliva sample and another VAS assessment after CD activities. The salivary cortisol was reduced in both groups comparing the first saliva sample. The satisfaction of the intervention was evident for lunchCD. The CD intervention is effective in decreasing an important physiological biomarker of stress factor, cortisol, in hospitalized children, been effective for the healing process.
Department of Pediatrics, Psychology and Psychiatry, Medical School of Botucatu, São Paulo State University , Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Flávia G
FG
Saliba
Department of Pediatrics, Psychology and Psychiatry, Medical School of Botucatu, São Paulo State University , Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Natanael S
NS
Adiwardana
Department of Pediatrics, Psychology and Psychiatry, Medical School of Botucatu, São Paulo State University , Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Eliane U
EU
Uehara
Department of Pediatrics, Psychology and Psychiatry, Medical School of Botucatu, São Paulo State University , Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Renata N
RN
Silvestre
Department of Pediatrics, Psychology and Psychiatry, Medical School of Botucatu, São Paulo State University , Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Victor V
VV
Leite
Department of Pediatrics, Psychology and Psychiatry, Medical School of Botucatu, São Paulo State University , Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Francisca T V
FT
Faleiros
Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Medical School of Botucatu, São Paulo State University , Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Flávia H P
FH
Padovani
Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience, São Paulo State University , Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Juliana I F
JI
De Gobbi
Salivary cortisol; bio-marker of stress; clowns doctors; visual analog scale