Implementing laughter therapy to enhance the well-being of patients and nurses

Penny Tremayne; Kirti Sharma

doi:10.7748/ns.2019.e11064

Implementing laughter therapy to enhance the well-being of patients and nurses

Nurs Stand. 2019 Feb 11. doi: 10.7748/ns.2019.e11064. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Penny Tremayne¹, Kirti Sharma²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, England.
² Body Mind Laughter, Leicester, England.

PMID: 31468821
DOI: 10.7748/ns.2019.e11064

Abstract

Most people enjoy laughing and having fun, and this can enable individuals to socialise and bond. However, there is a difference between spontaneous laughter and laughter therapy, which consists of physical exercise, relaxation techniques and simulated vigorous laughter. This article aims to enhance nurses' knowledge and understanding of laughter therapy, which is a practice within complementary and alternative medicine. It discusses the evolution of laughter therapy, and describes its components and how it is practised. This article also identifies the physical and psychosocial benefits of laughter therapy, and how patients and nurses can engage with this activity to enhance their well-being.

Keywords: alternative therapies; complementary therapies; mental health; mental health therapies; mindfulness; psychological interventions; public health; wellbeing.