RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Humor During Clinical Practice: Analysis of Recorded Clinical Encounters
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 270
OP 278
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170313
VO 31
IS 2
A1 Kari A. Phillips
A1 Naykky Singh Ospina
A1 Rene Rodriguez-Gutierrez
A1 Ana Castaneda-Guarderas
A1 Michael R. Gionfriddo
A1 Megan Branda
A1 Victor Montori
YR 2018
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/31/2/270.abstract
AB Objective: Little is known about humor's use in clinical encounters, despite its many potential benefits. We aimed to describe humor during clinical encounters.Design: We analyzed 112 recorded clinical encounters. Two reviewers working independently identified instances of humor, as well as information surrounding the logistics of its use.Results: Of the 112 encounters, 66 (59%) contained 131 instances of humor. Humor was similarly frequent in primary care (36/61, 59%) and in specialty care (30/51, 59%), was more common in gender-concordant interactions (43/63, 68%), and was most common during counseling (81/112, 62%). Patients and clinicians introduced humor similarly (63 vs 66 instances). Typically, humor was about the patient's medical condition (40/131, 31%).Discussion and Conclusion: Humor is used commonly during counseling to discuss the patient's medical condition and to relate to general life events bringing warmth to the medical encounter. The timing and topic of humor and its use by all parties suggests humor plays a role in the social connection between patients and physicians and allows easier discussion of difficult topics. Further research is necessary to establish its impact on clinicians, patients, and outcomes.