CONTRIBUTIONS OF HOSPITAL CLOWN DOCTORS
This paper presents data from studies undertaken in a Brazilian and a Portuguese context that show the strong impact of hospital's clowns on hospitalized children, their families, medical staff and other professionals with whom they interact. Additional benefits are also described concerning the hospital's image. Regarding children, studies point out the psychological and physical benefits of the clowns' presence (e.g. well-being, adaptation to the hospitalization experience, a sense of joy, stress reduction...), allowing them to “escape” from the hospital and have fun.