The missing element in health care. Humor as a form of creativity.

Abstract

Human creativity uses what is already available, changing it in unpredictable ways. Creativity is an option to client, caregiver, and institution. It is likely to occur in the open mode of thinking, where alertness, relaxation, and playfulness coexist. Humor is a desirable avenue to creative thinking for health promotion. The release and relaxation of humor benefits client and caregiver both physiologically and psychologically. Tension eases for patients, while nurses gain a new sense of control through the use of their own sense of humor. Fifty preoperative patients were surveyed on the use of humor education as a form of stress reduction. After surgery, the patients were told one-liners prior to administration of potentially painful topical medication. All perceived less pain. Humor rooms are spaces in hospitals which encourage the therapeutic use of humor. This is a unique holistic option to promote creative thinking of the staff while it enhances the healing of the patient.