A survey of 45 children hospitalised for cystic fibrosis, leukaemia and diabetes showed that chronically ill kids "tend to believe in Santa Claus longer," and that can be helpful to both patient and doctor, researcher and Canadian paediatrician Claude Cyr said.

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St Nick represents a positive life force, said Cyr, and the fantasy distracts children from their pain, particularly if doctors talk to them about Santa Claus.

"It's really important for them to still be children, even if they are in an adult world like the hospital or the intensive care unit with lots of strangers."

The study is published in the December 10 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. – (HealthScout News)

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