Humor in Medicine: Humor in Medicine Or Medicine is the Best Laughter


“A merry heart doeth good like medicine, but a downcast spirit drieth up the bones.”: “A merry heart doeth good like medicine, but a downcast spirit drieth up the bones.” Proverbs 17.22


Victor S. Sierpina, MD: Victor S. Sierpina, MD Associate Professor Family Medicine UTMB formerly “The Country Doc”


“The arrival of a clown exercises more beneficial influence upon the health of a town than 20 asses laden with drugs.” Thomas Sydenham: “The arrival of a clown exercises more beneficial influence upon the health of a town than 20 asses laden with drugs.” Thomas Sydenham


“Be a good listener - you never learn much from talking.”- Will Rogers: “Be a good listener - you never learn much from talking.” - Will Rogers


EXERCISE: EXERCISE Turn to the person next to you and either…. Share a funny moment from your childhood Tell a patient story that was really funny Tell a story of healing with humor Tell your favorite joke LAUGH OUT LOUD!!


“To provoke laughter is to encourage health.”- Francis Rabelais: “To provoke laughter is to encourage health.” - Francis Rabelais


Types of Humor: Types of Humor Superiority theory Incongruity (surprise) theory Release/relief theory Divinity theory Dossey, Altern Ther 1996 (handout)


Reported Benefits of Humor on Medical Conditions: Reported Benefits of Humor on Medical Conditions Fewer complications after MI (Tan) Improved immunocompetence (Berk) Diminished pain (Cousins) Improves allostasis in response to stress(McEwen) Tan, Can J Cardiol 1997 Berk, Alter Ther 2001 Cousins, NEJM 1976 McEwen, NEJM 1998


Further Benefits of Humor: Further Benefits of Humor Enhanced creativity (Koestler) Improved sense of self control (Wooten) Koestler, Act of Creation 1964 Wooten, Holistic Nurse Prac 1996


He who laughs, lasts.- Mary Pettibone Poole: He who laughs, lasts. - Mary Pettibone Poole


Those who cannot laugh at themselves leave the job for others.: Those who cannot laugh at themselves leave the job for others.


Middle age is having a choice of two temptations and choosing the one that will get you home earlier.: Middle age is having a choice of two temptations and choosing the one that will get you home earlier.


Humor in the Clinical Setting: Humor in the Clinical Setting Facilitates social interaction Evokes confidence Helps reduce stress Encourages the healing response Reduces provider burnout


I intend to live foreverso far so good: I intend to live forever so far so good


The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.: The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.


Some Ways of Using Humor In Medicine: Some Ways of Using Humor In Medicine Most effective ways are conversational, situational Twinkling eye contact, gentle amusement Be sure the patient knows your tenderness before joking (Patch Adams)


Using Humor in Practice: Using Humor in Practice Jokes can be appropriate Clown therapists in children’s hospitals, nursing homes, AIDS clinics Comedy cart, videos, comics, props, makeup, costumes


Tips for Using Humor—Onstage or in Clinic--Stu Silverstein, MD www.mdhumor.com: Tips for Using Humor—Onstage or in Clinic--Stu Silverstein, MD www.mdhumor.com Avoid racist, sexist material Make it relevant Memorize important lines Punch line last Pause before the punch line Never announce you are doing a joke Keep it brief Prepare for “ad libs”


Slide24: “We may already be too late, Mr. Parker.”


Don’t be inappropriate in your use of Humor: Don’t be inappropriate in your use of Humor Humor requires good communication skills and sensitivity to avoid appearing callous, uncaring Avoid laughing at someone rather than with them Never make light of another’s suffering


Caution from Norman Cousins: Caution from Norman Cousins “..it would be an error…to suggest that laughter—or the positive emotions in general—have universal or automatic validity, whatever the circumstances.People respond differently to the same things. One man’s humor is another man’s ho-hum. The treatment of illness has to be carefully tailored to suit the individual patient.” Cousins, Head First: The Biology of Hope 1989


More from Cousins and Cosby: More from Cousins and Cosby Humor is a metaphor for a gamut of emotions, not just jocularity (Cousins) “If you can laugh at it, you can survive it.” (Cosby)


“In appearance, let the physician be of a serious but not a harsh countenance; for harshness is taken to mean arrogance and unkindness. A man of uncontrolled laughter and excessive gaiety is considered vulgar, and vulgarity especially must be avoided.”- Hippocrates: “In appearance, let the physician be of a serious but not a harsh countenance; for harshness is taken to mean arrogance and unkindness. A man of uncontrolled laughter and excessive gaiety is considered vulgar, and vulgarity especially must be avoided.” - Hippocrates


“More mistakes in medicine are made by those who do not care, that by those who do not know.” - Allen Gregg: “More mistakes in medicine are made by those who do not care, that by those who do not know.” - Allen Gregg


A conclusion is the place you got tired of thinking. : A conclusion is the place you got tired of thinking.