Healing Humor: The Use of Humor in the Nurse-Patient Relationship

Abstract

Objective: To identify the importance of using humor in patient/nurse relationship, its factors, its conditions and the barriers that might limit its use. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar, for relevant articles published in English between 2010 and 2019. We included the studies that investigated humor between nurses and their patient's relationship. Results: From the initial 287 articles found, 15 were included for final revision. Data allowed retrieving information on humor definition; its applicability as a nursing intervention; humor as a tool to improve nurse-patient communication and relationship; influencing factors; humor benefits in health care context and the limits that come against its use. Conclusion: Humor is considered a powerful communication tool, it promotes well-being, relieves anxiety and stress, helps deal with stressful situations but it should be used cautiously in order to prevent undesired consequences.

Percepción del uso del humor por parte de enfermeras y pacientes en los servicios de salud mental

“…Uno de los hallazgos más relevantes de la revisión es que el sentido del humor se considera como un instrumento terapéutico valioso cuando el estilo utilizado es ético, afectuoso, de calidad y va en sintonía con el paciente, pues permite proporcionar ánimo e introducir temas que potencialmente pueden provocar miedo o ansiedad, siendo, además, un elemento que favorece la seguridad y comodidad tanto del paciente como de la enfermera, si la experiencia es positiva durante su uso (25). Se evidencia la importancia de la comunicación desde la perspectiva del humor por parte de las enfermeras, ya que es un tema recurrente en la mayoría de los artículos incluidos en la revisión (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31). A pesar de este hecho, en la revisión se pueden identificar aspectos o conductas que, dentro de la comunicación en la relación entre la enfermera y el paciente, pueden comprometer la calidad de la relación enfermera-paciente (32)(33)(34).…”

“…En esta misma línea, el empleo del humor saludable por parte de las enfermeras especializadas en salud mental incide positivamente en los usuarios, contribuyendo al alivio de sentimientos desagradables, tales como la ansiedad, la depresión y la baja autoestima. La actitud empática en el cuidado facilita un uso efectivo del humor como recurso terapéutico (26,29). En el contexto de los desafíos cognitivos y relacionales que presentan los pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, la incorporación intencionada del humor en las intervenciones terapéuticas se revela Existen barreras que están relacionadas con la enfermera por "agotamiento laboral", "habilidades inadecuadas", "actitud negativa hacia el paciente" y "la frustración de no ver resultados a sus intervenciones con los pacientes psiquiátricos".…”

The power of laughter: a study on humor and creativity in undergraduate nursing education in Egypt

“…Though the context in which humor can be used is highly influenced by personal factors, such as age, gender, and personality, its use is strongly recommended. However, it is necessary to use humor cautiously and in appropriate circumstances, as there may be barriers to its use [ 41 ].…”

Self-Guided Humorous Imagery Mitigates Pain and Anxiety: A Repeated Measures Pilot Study

“…Defining Humor and Sense of Humor Cousins (1979) already described that humor can be used to heal people, and recently Chelly et al (2022) have highlighted that humor is of great value in communication between the nurse and the patient. Yet, what exactly humor is, appears to be difficult to define.…”

“…Yet, what exactly humor is, appears to be difficult to define. While various efforts have been made over the years, a singular all-encompassing definition of humor has yet to be achieved (Chelly et al, 2022; Sousa, Marques-Vieira et al, 2019). Liptak et al (2014, p. 31), suggested that humor is a “stimulus … that may or may not produce laughter,” further explaining humor as encompassing “joking, laughing, macabre humor, situation comedy, plays on words/puns and unexpected situations” (Liptak, 2014, p. 26).…”