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Aims This study aims to measure the prevalence rates and patterns of help-seeking behavior as a consequence of being harmed by drinkers in five Asian countries (India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Lao PDR and Thailand). Methods A total of 9832 respondents aged 18–65 years from the WHO/ThaiHealth Collaborative Project were surveyed between 2012 and 2014 about their experiences of being negatively affected due to another's drinking, and whether and where they sought help, focusing on four adverse aspects of harms from others' drinking. Results The prevalence of seeking help from any source in the past year due to harm from others' drinking ranged from 7% to 20%. The most common service used by those who were affected by other people's drinking was asking for help from friends, followed by calling the police and using health-related services. The largest proportion of help-seeking was among those reporting property harm, followed by those being harmed physically and sexually by drinkers. Conclusion Given a wide range of harms from others' drinking in the general population and different needs of those affected, prevalence rates for help-seeking behavior due to others' drinking in South and South East Asian countries were low and the help sought was often informal. There is a large knowledge gap in our understanding of the mechanisms of help-seeking behavior and the pathways for access to help among those affected. Further studies are important for enhancing the social response services available and making these more accessible to those who need help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Clown doctors are a feature in paediatric hospitals, visiting children and families, providing a welcome escape from the reality of hospitalisation. Whilst the use of humour to improve health and wellbeing has been widely researched, limited exploration of the role of clown doctors has occurred. This research aims to elucidate the role of clown doctors within a paediatric hospital. Theory/Methods: In this ethnographic study, participants included the clown doctors and every person with whom they had a meaningful encounter. The narrative of the clown doctors was captured through 1,500 hours of participant observation documented over one year. Interviews and visual methods were utilised, with key informants drawing and explaining their experience of the clown doctors. A constructivist framework was used to analyse emergent themes. Results: Whilst almost universally acknowledged as a positive addition to the hospital, most people who encounter the clown doctors have little conception about the scope of their role. Themes that arose during observation that related to the function of clown doctors included: distraction, anxiety reduction and procedural assistance; entertainment and making people laugh; emotional support and providing comfort; and communication, including translating clinical information to families. These functional elements of the clown doctors are the result of a more complex, intimate human connection that arose due to the nature of the clown being low-status, open, and vulnerable, and in particular existing as an outsider within the medical establishment. These interconnected relationships drove engagement and resulted in clown doctors becoming privy to information, emotions, complaints, jokes, disclosures etc., often not revealed by patients and their families to staff members, or even vice versa. Discussion: While almost universally acknowledged as a positive addition to the hospital, most people who encounter the clown doctors have little conception about the scope of their role. The role of the clown doctors transcends traditional labels, but in crude terms it can be characterised as thus: role leads to function, which in turn leads to outcome. In terms of a joke analogy, function is the punch line of being a clown doctor. Conclusion: The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of clown doctors and the complexity of human relationships within a major paediatric hospital, uncovering a profound, nuanced culture cheerfully highlighting the need for a more person-centred approach to healthcare. Lessons Learned: This study has advanced understanding regarding clown doctors' unique contribution to healthcare delivery within a tertiary paediatric health service, highlighting their expertise in role-modelling person-centred interactions. Limitations: This study was conducted within one paediatric health service. The researchers believe however that the novel understandings regarding the role of the clown doctors generated through this study would likely transfer easily to other healthcare settings. Suggestions for Future Research: This study will inform future qualitative and quantitate research studies that aim to describe and measure the role of the clown doctors, as distinct from their activities, and the contribution this has to the experience of patients within health care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]