News Item
Medicine, General & Internal
Mary Chris Jaklevic
Summary: Studies suggest that hospital clowns can help alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and pain in pediatric patients.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Genizi Jacob, Blanche Einav, Moskovitz Ashy, Muati-Azencot Nofar, Sharfstein Aviad, Mahagney Ayed
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of a close collaboration with medical clowns on the performance of EEG in young children. The results showed that the study group, which had medical clowns present during the EEG, had significantly higher technical scores, higher cooperation rates, and higher parent satisfaction compared to the control group without medical clowns. Additionally, sedation was not necessary in the study group. This suggests that collaborating with medical clowns during EEG testing in young children can improve the quality of the test and increase satisfaction for both parents and technicians.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Educational
Rinat Feniger-Schaal, Amitai Stern, Einat Elizarov
Summary: This study examined the effects of a medical/therapeutic clowning play intervention on the playfulness of children with intellectual disability. The results showed that children's playfulness significantly increased after the intervention, with the long intervention group showing greater improvement than the short intervention group. The teachers' focus group also revealed additional benefits of the medical clowns' work.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Dorit Efrat-Triester, Daniel Altman, Enav Friedmann, Dalit Lev-Arai Margalit, Kinneret Teodorescu
Summary: Medical clowns are most effective in enhancing satisfaction and reducing aggressive tendencies in children, while they may have the opposite effect on adult patients. Consequently, medical clowns should be primarily placed in children's wards.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Galiya Raisin, Rachel Cohen, Orit Galant, Miriam Vaisfish, Sol Jaworowski, Jawdat Jaber, Stanislav Kocherov, Boris Chertin
Summary: The potential benefits of medical clowns (MCs) in reducing anxiety and pain during paediatric urinary catheter insertion were investigated in this study. The results showed no differences in pain and anxiety levels between the MC group and the sedation group, but the procedure duration and total hospital stay were significantly shorter in the MC group. 100% of the parents and medical team supported the incorporation of MCs during urinary catheter insertion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yehuda Neumark, Adina Bar-Lev, David Barashi, Shmuel Benenson
Summary: Introducing medical clowns as hand-hygiene promoters is a feasible and welcomed approach to prevent healthcare-acquired infections among hospital staff. The intervention improved personal and departmental hand-hygiene, particularly in departments with low baseline compliance levels.
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Deby Babis, Orly Korin, Uzi Ben -Shalom, Alejandro (Alex) Gruber
Summary: During the Covid-19 pandemic, medical clowns disappeared from hospitals worldwide, but the Israeli 'Dream Doctors' continued their work in children's and Coronavirus wards. Through interviews and digital ethnography, the integration and challenges faced by medical clowns in Coronavirus wards were studied. They adapted their art and protective measures, bringing laughter and joy to uplift the mood of patients, families, and staff. The clowns' intervention was crucial and led to successful integration in general wards.
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Orit Karnieli-Miller, Orna Divon-Ophir, Doron Sagi, Liat Pessach-Gelblum, Amitai Ziv, Lior Rozental
Summary: This article presents a qualitative study that explores the challenges, skills, and therapeutic goals of medical clowns in pediatrics. The study identified 40 different skills that medical clowns possess, extending beyond humor and entertainment. It also revealed four main therapeutic goals, including building relationships, managing emotions, enhancing a sense of control, and motivating treatment adherence. The findings clarify the role and actions of medical clowns, aiding healthcare professionals in recognizing their practices and potentially applying similar skills in their own work.
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ayelet Shles, Giulia Pula, Omer Raviv, Dania Takagi, Hadas Yechiam, Ehud Rosenbloom
Summary: This study found that using a medical clown to measure blood pressure in pediatric emergency departments can shorten the time, especially among children of Jewish ethnicity.
ISRAEL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Keiko Yamashita, Shintaro Oyama, Tomohiro Otani, Satoshi Yamashita, Taiki Furukawa, Daisuke Kobayashi, Kikue Sato, Aki Sugano, Chiaki Funada, Kensaku Mori, Naoki Ishiguro, Yoshimune Shiratori
Summary: The study evaluated the accuracy of geomagnetic indoor positioning in hospitals and found that combining geomagnetic with BLE beacons was the most accurate method for in-hospital localization tasks. This combination reduced the average position error to approximately 1.2 m and could effectively target humans (patients) in hospital settings.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL INFORMATICS ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Philip John Tyson, Shakiela K. Davies, Sophie Scorey, William James Greville
Summary: The fear of clowns originates from uncertainty of harmful intent, media influences, and unpredictability of behavior, as well as negative experiential states and a sense of threat produced by features of clown appearance.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Heleen N. Haspels, Annemieke A. de Lange, Mattijs W. Alsem, Bettina Sandbergen, Karolijn Dulfer, Matthijs de Hoog, Koen F. M. Joosten, Clara D. van Karnebeek, Job B. M. van Woensel, Jolanda M. Maaskant
Summary: Through a Delphi study and focus groups, a Core Outcome Set (COS) for future intervention research on hospital-to-home transitions for Children with Medical Complexity (CMC) has been identified. The COS includes outcomes such as disease management, children's quality of life, impact on the life of families, and self-efficacy of parents. These core outcomes can facilitate standard reporting in future CMC research.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel A. Norman, Margie Danchin, Christopher C. Blyth, Pamela Palasanthiran, David Tran, Kristine K. Macartney, Ushma Wadia, Hannah C. Moore, Holly Seale
Summary: This study aimed to explore the barriers and enablers for recommending, delivering, and recording influenza vaccination for children in Australian hospitals. The findings revealed that supportive hospital leadership, engaged providers, and dedicated immunisation services play essential roles in promoting influenza vaccine delivery for children.
Article
Ethics
Victoria Valdebenito Mac Farlane
Summary: The synthesis of a major research on the perspectives of families and healthcare team regarding hospital clowns in pediatric palliative care in Chile found that hospital clowns are perceived as mediators and valued for their socio-emotional competences. Their role as complementary therapy, especially in using play as an intervention tool, is crucial in palliative care.
Review
Pediatrics
Annemieke de Lange, Mattijs W. W. Alsem, Heleen N. N. Haspels, Clara D. M. van Karnebeek, Job B. M. van Woensel, Faridi S. S. Etten-Jamaludin, Jolanda M. M. Maaskant
Summary: This systematic review categorized the outcomes reported in studies evaluating hospital-to-home transitional care interventions for children with medical complexity. Out of 172 outcomes, 25 unique outcomes were identified and assigned to six outcome domains. This study contributes to the development of a core outcome set for transitional care in this population.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kannan Sridharan, Gowri Sivaramakrishnan
Summary: The study found that genotype-based warfarin dosing using CYP2C9 can lead to a shorter time to reach therapeutic INR and stable INR/warfarin dose. Adding VKORC1 to the genotype-based dosing strategy can further improve these outcomes, with the addition of CYP4F2 reducing the proportion of patients with supra-therapeutic INR. Additional randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the benefits of including CYP4F2 in personalized warfarin dosing.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY AND THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
K. Sridharan, G. Sivaramakrishnan
Summary: Topical corticosteroids were found to be the most effective class of drug for treating oral lichen planus. However, while topical pimecrolimus and cyclosporine are effective, they come with significant risks of adverse effects.
AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kannan Sridharan, Muna Al Jufairi, Eman Al Ansari, Reem Al Marzooq, Zakariya Hubail, Sadeq Jaafar Radhi Hasan, Abdulraoof Al Madhoob
Summary: This study presented the results of using intravenous acetaminophen at 15 mg/kg/dose every 6 hours for treating critically ill preterm neonates with PDA. The treatment was successful in 78.2% of the preterm neonates, with lower incidence of hepatotoxicity and AKI observed in the study population. No association was found between serum acetaminophen concentrations and PDA closure.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY AND THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Eman Farid, Kannan Sridharan, Ola Am Alsegai, Safa Al Khawaja, Eman J. Mansoor, Noor A. Teraifi, Manaf Al Qahtani, Jameela Al Salman
Summary: This study found that certain inflammatory biomarkers play important roles in COVID-19 patients, including serum ferritin, D-dimer, and CRP. These biomarkers accurately predict the risk of patients developing severe infections, identify pneumonia patients, and predict severe illness.
BIOMARKERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Dermatology
B. Stuart, E. Maund, C. Wilcox, K. Sridharan, G. Sivaramakrishnan, C. Regas, D. Newell, I. Soulsby, K. F. Tang, A. Y. Finlay, H. C. Bucher, P. Little, A. M. Layton, M. Santer
Summary: Network meta-analysis found that adapalene in combination with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) may be the most effective treatment for acne, but with a slightly higher incidence of withdrawal. Confidence in the overall evidence was low, indicating a need for further research for validation.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Kannan Sridharan, Gowri Sivaramakrishnan
Summary: Topical methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone, and betamethasone were found to have better clinical resolution in treating phimosis in children compared to other corticosteroids, while high-potency corticosteroids like beclomethasone and clobetasol did not show superior benefits. Considering their low potency, hydrocortisone should be preferred until further evidence emerges.
PEDIATRIC SURGERY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kannan Sridharan, Rashed Al Banna, Aysha Husain
Summary: No clinically significant seasonal variations were observed in the therapeutic response to warfarin, which is contradictory to previous studies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL PHARMACY
(2023)
Article
Communication
Kannan Sridharan, Gowri Sivaramakrishnan
Summary: COVID-19 has brought about an increase in internet and social media usage during lockdowns, leading to the spread of disinformation regarding prevention and treatment strategies. Websites promoting medicinal products were found to be the major source of such disinformation, followed by social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Noncompliance with FDA regulations was prevalent in the promotion of various products for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. It is crucial for national drug regulatory authorities to intensify their efforts in monitoring and addressing this issue to prevent potentially lethal consequences.
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kannan Sridharan, Eman Al Ansari, Mwila Mulubwa, Arun Prasath Raju, Abdulraoof Al Madhoob, Muna Al Jufairi, Zakariya Hubail, Reem Al Marzooq, Sadeq Jaafar Radhi Hasan, Surulivelrajan Mallaysamy
Summary: This study conducted a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of acetaminophen in preterm neonates with hemodynamically significant PDA, indicating that a dose of 20 mg/kg intravenously every six hours is likely to offer better therapeutic effects than the current dosing regimen.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hawra Abdulwahab, Muna Aljishi, Ameera Sultan, Ghada Al-Kafaji, Kannan Sridharan, Moiz Bakhiet, Safa Taha
Summary: The study characterized whole blood gene expression profiles in Bahraini SCD patients using Microarray technology, identifying differentially expressed genes during steady-state and VOC, with PLSCR4 potentially serving as a biomarker for VOC.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kannan Sridharan, Muna Al Jufairi, Eman Al Ansari
Summary: This study found that a significant proportion of critically ill neonates received off-label or unlicensed drugs, and such use was associated with a potentially increased risk of medication errors. Very pre-term and extremely low birth weight neonates were at higher risk of medication errors compared to others, with off-label drugs posing a risk ratio of 20.4 compared to labeled drugs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RISK & SAFETY IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Gowri Sivaramakrishnan, Muneera Alsobaiei, Kannan Sridharan
Summary: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the evidence of oral side effects caused by nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and found that the number of patients experiencing oral discomfort significantly increased with the use of NRT. Therefore, it is crucial for patients using NRT to have regular dental visits and check their oral mucosa.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kannan Sridharan, Shamik Shah, Anfal Jassim, Mona Hammad, Johaina Ebrahim Al Gadhban, Ola Al Segai
Summary: This study evaluated the influence of genetic polymorphisms such as CYP3A5, POR, ABCB1 on immunosuppressant drug concentrations and outcomes in renal transplant patients. The results indicated significant associations between these genetic polymorphisms and drug concentrations, therapeutic range, and adverse events.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kannan Sridharan, Abdulraoof Al Madhoob, Muna Al Jufairi
Summary: A retrospective study found that critically ill neonates received relatively high cumulative doses of furosemide, and about half of the population experienced electrolyte disturbances. A cumulative dose of 4 mg/kg increased the risk of electrolyte abnormalities, particularly in preterm neonates. More careful dose titration and monitoring of adverse effects are needed in this vulnerable population.
THERAPEUTICS AND CLINICAL RISK MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Correction
Pediatrics
Rahul Kashyap, Srinivas Murthy, Grace M. Arteaga, Yue Dong, Lindsey Cooper, Tanja Kovacevic, Chetak Basavaraja, Hong Ren, Lina Qiao, Guoying Zhang, Kannan Sridharan, Ping Jin, Tao Wang, Ilisapeci Tuibeqa, An Kang, Mandyam Dhanti Ravi, Ebru Ongun, Ognjen Gajic, Sandeep Tripathi
JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PEDIATRICS
(2022)
