Effects of Laughter Therapy on Recovery Status from Facial Paralysis, Pain and Stress in Bell's palsy Patients

웃음치료가 구안와사환자의 안면마비 회복정도, 통증 및 스트레스에 미치는 효과

Purpose: This study was done to identify the effects of Laughter therapy on recovery status from facial paralysis, pain, and stress in Bell's palsy patients. Methods: This research was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized pre-posttest quasi-experimental research design. Data were collected from August 8, to October 15, 2013 at D university Oriental Medical Center in B city. Participants were 60 patients with Bell's palsy who were assigned to one of two groups: an experimental group of 30 patients and a control group of 30 patients. t-test, $x^2-test$, Fisher's exact test and Welth-Aspin test were used to test the homogeneity between the two groups and t-test, Welth-Aspin test and ANCOVA were used to test the research hypotheses. SPSS program was used for statistical analysis. Results: There were significant increases in recovery status from facial paralysis and decreases in stress after Laughter therapy in the experimental group. Conclusion: The results indicate that Laughter therapy is effective in facilitating recovery status from facial paralysis and decreasing stress. Therefore, Laughter therapy can be used as an effective nursing intervention for patients with facial paralysis and to relieve stress in these patients.