This was an issue within my PhD, the data is over 20 years old now. But that was the other way round. Women, and more often partners who joked, put midwives at ease and thereby gained more information during labour. For some of the couples this was clearly a joint way of coping with life, the woman was usually the "straight man". The 2 partners who were outstanding in this respect were both ambulance men and I am sure this was a professional coping skill for them.
I have been observing humour in clinical settings ever since and want to add a word of caution about endorsing it. It always reinforces the hierarchy. Women who joke are putting themselves down, accepting their position as patients, saying they are no threat to "the experts" in a witty way. Similarly midwives and junior medics who joke. Joking is a useful tool within the "Doctor nurse game". Sometimes there is humour which reinforces one level within the hierarchy, used privately within that group, but I don't hear humour which challenges. So I think we have to be aware of what we are doing in proposing to research a skill which usually lies with the repertoire of heirarchy maintenance work.
These is quite a bit of medical sociology on humour but I haven't got the references to hand.
There are other aspects of humour, such as black professional humour, but that is a separate issue.
Best Wishes,
Mavis
Mavis Kirkham
Professor of Midwifery
Sheffield Hallam University
33 Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield S10 2BJ
tel 0114 2255644
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive health research. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Denis Walsh
Sent: 02 February 2007 13:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Humour as a therapeutic intervention
A couple of refs for you Andrew:
LeNavenec CL, Slaughter S (2001) Laughter can be the best medicine. Nursing Times, 97(30):42-3 Olsson H, Backe H, Sorensen S, Kock, M (2002) The essence of humour and its effects and functions: a qualitative study. Journal of Nursing Management;
10(1):21-6
Walker, J (2002) Emotional and psychological preoperative preparation in adults. British Journal of Nursing, 11(8):567-75
Best wishes,
Denis
Dr Denis Walsh
Reader in Normal Birth, University of Central Lancashire Independent Midwifery Consultant Home address:
366 Hinckley Rd
Leicester LE3 OUT, UK
Mobile: 07905735777
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Symon" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 11:51 AM
Subject: Humour as a therapeutic intervention
Some American nursing academics have flagged up the possibility of
researching humour as a therapeutic intervention. I am interested in this
possibility in relation to women in early labour (or even later labour), and
somewhere in the back of my mind I'm sure I've heard or read bits about
this.
Laughter in labour gets a mention in a few articles, books (there's a little
in Ina May Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery) and various websites, but not from
an evidence-based perspective, except the 'evidence-of-one'. Anecdotes can
be enlightening, but only take us so far.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
I'm thinking in particular about exploring a possible reduction in stress
responses, or an increase in endorphin production, so assisting the process
of labour.
Does anyone know of any studies within midwifery in this field?
Many thanks,
Andrew
Dr. Andrew Symon
Senior Lecturer
School of Nursing & Midwifery
University of Dundee
01382 496671
|