The Effect of Clown Therapy on Depression of Children with Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

Cancer is a common disease in children. Chemotherapy, as one of the most important treatments for cancer, is associated with feeling of depression that can have negative effects on the treatment process. The aim of this study was to determining the effect of clown therapy on depression in children with cancer under chemotherapy.

This clinical trial study, was carried out on 77 children aged 7-15 years with cancer undergoing chemotherapy in one of the educational hospitals of Zahedan in 2018. The participants were selected using convenience sampling method.  The researcher was dressed as a clown and welcomed the children. The intervention group and clown participated in various games during two weeks (each week 2 sessions and each session for 2 hours) in the oncology department room. The control group received routine care. Data were collected by Child Depression Inventory (CDI) before and immediately after the intervention.

The mean depression score in intervention group after intervention (28.94 ± 15.21) was significantly lower than before intervention (37.92 ± 13.98) (P<0.001), whereas in the control group, this difference was not significant. The mean difference scores of depression after clown therapy between the two groups was significant (P<0.001).

Clown therapy reduces depression in children with cancer under chemotherapy. Considering the negative effects of depression on the treatment of these children, the use of this method in children's clinical units is recommended.