By Nicholas Leung
A surprising ally appears in the healthcare industry, where our personal experiences collide with the complexities of science and compassion: fairy tales. These timeless stories are not only imaginative plays, but they also provide deep insights into the characteristics of the human, such as health, resilience, and the pursuit of wellness. Especially with our continuous technological breakthroughs, healthcare professionals can discover new ways to empower, educate, and care for patients through utilization of the storytelling medium. By examining fairy tales through a different perspective, we can uncover a wealth of metaphors and allegories that address the difficulties and successes involved in the healthcare industry. Fairy tales can help us dissect the complexity of healthcare through compassion, understanding, and optimism. Because of their enduring stories and relatable characters, fairy tales have long been used as a vehicle for social commentary and moral teachings. They tell stories of allegiances established through hardship and persistence in the face of adversity. However, these stories have an elaborate tapestry of themes and symbolism that go far beyond the boundaries of fantasy hidden behind their charming exterior. The similarities between fairy tales and the healthcare industry are unexpectedly insightful and significant. In these stories, the protagonists go out on transformative journeys; similarly, people find their own ways through the maze-like healthcare systems, encounter obstacles, look for solutions, and eventually aim for improved well-being. This suggests that incorporating fairy tale elements into healthcare interactions can enhance bedside care and bolster the physical and emotional strength of patients. By creating an atmosphere of safety and comfort in stressful situations, such elements can significantly improve the healthcare experience. We are able to combat the unfamiliar with something familiar, facilitating reassurance in desperate times.
Fairy tales transform the impossible into possible, fostering a sense of resilience and bravery. This innovative approach not only captivates patients with stories of characters overcoming adversity but also allows them to craft an environment where they feel most comfortable and empowered. By fostering a mindset of optimism and confidence, we aim to reassure patients that everything will be alright, supporting their healing journey with a sense of wonder and personal empowerment. It is important to take advantage of fairy tales in our lives because “the fairy tale has a specific function in the natural life of the individual and offers new dimensions to the child’s imagination. Emotional aspects are allowed to enter his consciousness and are processed through by his imagination and so these elements gradually become tolerable. Fairy tales, myths and stories belong to the psychic group mentality and connect the individual to the great myths of humanity… it is a road map to help children to find their pathway and meanings“ (Margherita et. al. 427). These narratives remind us that despite facing challenges, the characters we admire exhibit strength and courage, encouraging us to recognize our own extraordinary qualities. Another way to think of the fairy tale is as a phenomenon of change. The use of fairy tales is an appropriate method of understanding and combating traumatizing experiences. When children play in a well-designed clinic environment, they can explore new ideas, use their creativity to build solutions to problems, or try out different roles where they can be anything or anyone they want to be, including a patient free of any ailments.
Many major healthcare corporations are researching similar topics and coming to the same conclusion that reading stories to children in hospitals has positive impacts. Children can be calmed and soothed via storytelling, as parents, educators, and other caregivers have long proven. The psychological and somatic benefits of a well-told story have now been quantified by researchers working in pediatric intensive care units. During their stay, the patients’ physical needs are the top priority, but they also need emotional and mental support, which should not be disregarded. To prove this idea of fairy tales in healthcare and how they benefit both the caregiver and patient, researchers from multiple Brazilian hospitals, working for Scientific American, divided 81 patients between the ages of four and eleven into two groups and paired them with storytellers that were experienced in working in hospitals for ten years. The storyteller guided each child in a group as they played a game of riddles. Children selected books in the other activity and listened to the storyteller read them aloud. Each child provided saliva samples before and after these sessions, and the researchers also asked them to report their level of pain and administered a free-association word test. Measurably, the interactions between the children in both groups produced positive effects. For example, cortisol, the hormone related to stress, was found to be lowered, while oxytocin, often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone and linked to empathy, was elevated. However, children in the storytelling group benefited much more; their oxytocin levels were almost twice as high and their cortisol levels were a quarter of those in the riddle group. In addition to reporting nearly twice as much reduction in pain as those in the puzzle group, individuals who listened to stories also described their hospital stay with more favorable adjectives. According to the study, children relax and their attitudes improve when they play games and spend time with others, but listening to stories has a particularly strong positive impact. Most importantly, the researchers made a coordinated effort to regulate the storyteller’s social interaction component. The duration of these effects and the potential advantages of storytelling for children with certain conditions, such as cancer, will be the subjects of future research by the investigators. The findings suggest that using storytelling to enhance health outcomes in a range of contexts can be a very effective and affordable strategy. It shows a lot of promise, is scalable, and might be generalizable (Cosier 2021). This experiment, and future ones like it, are extremely important for the healthcare industry to follow with full intent and enthusiasm because it could be an inexpensive and productive alternative to countless different methods of assistance and backing throughout difficult and trying situations. This is due to the fact that the results underscore the diverse advantages of narrative therapy in the medical field, stressing its capacity to improve children’s physical and mental health.
The Children’s Hospital of Orange County, CHOC, utilizes a special resource called the Disney Children’s Hospitals Initiative, where they provide support and motivation to pediatric patients dealing with various illnesses. This dedication goes back to Walt Disney, who frequently visited hospitals with young patients, escorted by beloved Disney characters and artists. Additionally, they run an event called the CHOC Walk to generate money for research, education, and programming for kids in Southern California. For the past thirty years, Disney has made CHOC Walk a tradition. For instance, at a pre-COVID event, teams of CHOC walkers held signs that paid tribute to CHOC or the specific patient for whom they walked. In support of children’s health and wellbeing, this special event brings the Disneyland Resort community together for a thought-provoking and inspirational stroll across Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park. In 2023, the community came together to honor the bravery and strength shown by the CHOC patients, families, and staff (CHOCWalk.org). This is not only valuable to the community but also beneficial to patients as it fosters community support and encouragement, provides essential funding for healthcare services, underscores the importance of pediatric healthcare, promotes physical and mental well-being, and celebrates hope and perseverance. This is also emotionally beneficial as it creates an environment of care and uplift through the sense of friendship and support from other participants, including family members, medical professionals, and community members. Patients feel supported and a sense of camaraderie as they walk alongside others to advance pediatric healthcare.
By creating a space that reflects a patient’s imaginations, healthcare providers can employ distraction as a therapeutic tool, enveloping them in an environment of their own design. This behavior aims to reinforce in young patients the belief that, although the characters they admire may seem fantastical, they too possess unique traits that make them exceptional. With technological advancements and the networking and connections that are always expanding, there are a countless number of projects we can turn into reality. For example, leveraging my travels in Japan and visiting teamLabs as inspiration, I envision creating interactive digital rooms at the hospital, where patients and families can customize their environment via an app. This app will guide families to their personalized room, brought to life with lights and holograms to minimize germ transmission. It would contain countless options for the patient to design, and it can allow them to meet and interact with their heroes. While they are distracted with awe and amazement, they are subconsciously reminding themselves about the wondrous abilities the heroes have, thus fortifying their own mentality and courage to confront their fears. Not only does this alleviate the pain and anxiety, it also allows an immediate interaction between a patient and their hero. This project utilizes positive distraction, the idea that “when someone is in an unfamiliar place, a familiar routine can bring a sense of normalcy and relaxation. Having access to choose what those small moments of comfort are can give patients a sense of control in a place where they otherwise feel helpless” (SONIFI Health). The use of positive distraction presents many benefits such as assisting patients in feeling less discomfort, preventing a negative emotional spiral, encouraging happy feelings to help deal with a hospital visit, and lessening anxiety. Although being in an environment from a land that was once only imagined has its unfamiliar aspects, it is outweighed by the familiarity of these characters and the feeling of safety they elicit.
Right now, there are many companies trying to implement fairy tales to immerse people into a world that includes everything they have ever imagined with a captivating environment. These companies, such as Disney, remind us that we are able to bring these fantasies into reality through different forms. I believe this advancement could impact healthcare, especially in the pediatric sector, because it allows for patients to be assessed efficiently and effectively in the comfort of their own imagined environment. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, 30-40% of children are diagnosed with white-coat hypertension, which is where they experience high levels of anxiety when in an examination room. Using fairy tales, whether through reading, watching a movie, or creating their own via an app, we can decrease anxiety levels as well as the risk of post traumatic stress disorder from being uncomfortable in the hospital. Right now, children look forward to the candy and superhero or princess stickers they receive as a reward after an injection, but we can develop that so much more with the constant improvements our society is engaging with. One company that is currently succeeding at generating a place filled with fascination, entertainment, and excitement, is the Walt Disney Company, who have been continually engaging with the public with a spoonful of sugar.
Quote from CHOC Home » Programs and Services » Disney Children’s Hospitals Initiative
The Walt Disney Company prides itself on its magic and ability to charm everybody with their fairy tales and imaginative endeavors. The collaboration between pediatric healthcare experts and The Walt Disney Company is a ground-breaking approach to enhancing the patient experience in children’s hospitals worldwide. The emotional bond that consumers and the Disney brand share is strengthened by these catchphrases. Disney fosters awe, wonder, and a feeling of enchantment in its visitors by presenting Disneyland as “the happiest place on Earth” and Disney World as “most magical place on Earth.” These catchphrases arouse excitement and memories in people, luring them to experience Disney enchantment directly from all over the world in order to fulfill their mission of informing, entertaining, and inspiring “people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, reflecting the iconic brands, creative minds and innovative technologies that make [theirs] the world’s premier entertainment company” (The Walt Disney Company). By means of the beloved characters and incredible creativity that are Disney’s trademark, this endeavor seeks to transform hospital environments into personalized and engaging spaces that are tailored to the needs and preferences of young patients. Hospitals use interactive activities, Disney magic-inspired themed décor, and entertainment options to try to make kids feel inspired and at ease during their medical trips. Hospitals can use popular Disney characters and storylines to give young patients confidence, hope, and perseverance. This makes people feel better and less stressed about being in the hospital. Additionally, by working together, Disney can be sure that its initiatives are in line with the particular needs and knowledge of pediatric healthcare providers, leading to creative solutions that improve the standard of care given to young patients. All things considered, this project has the potential to improve not only the outward appearance of children’s hospitals but also the whole experience of pediatric patients and their families around the globe.
In conclusion, the incorporation of fairy tales into medical procedures presents a revolutionary strategy for both community well-being and patient treatment. Healthcare professionals may build understanding, inspire perseverance in the face of hardship, and foster meaningful relationships by utilizing the universal language of storytelling. People are given the confidence, empathy, and hope to negotiate the complexity of healthcare through the well-known stories and symbolism found in fairy tales. Let us embrace the magic of fairy tales to rewrite the story of healthcare and create a world where every journey towards wellness is filled with the transformational power of compassion and imagination.
Bibliography
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Cosier, Susan. “Listening to a Story Helps Hospitalized Kids Heal.” Scientific American, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc., 1 Oct. 2021, www.scientificamerican.com/article/listening-to-a-story-helps-hospitalized-kids-heal/.
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“Hypertension.” Hypertension | Boston Children’s Hospital, www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/hypertension.
Margherita, G., Martino, M.L., Recano, F., Camera, F., 2014. Invented fairy tales in groups with onco‐hematological children. Child 40, 426–434. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12076
Sonifihealth. “The Power of the Familiar in an Unfamiliar Place.” SONIFI Health, 14 Nov. 2023, www.sonifihealth.com/the-power-of-the-familiar-in-an-unfamiliar-place/
