Feasibility, efficacy, and safety of animal-assisted activities with visiting dogs in inpatient pediatric oncology.

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer entails a heavy burden for patients and their families. Recent advances in overall survival rates have increasingly brought long-term quality of life into focus. Animal-assisted activities (AAAs) have long been hypothesized to alleviate the burden on pediatric patients and their peers in the hospital setting. However, their use in inpatient pediatric oncology has been a sensitive issue mainly due to the fear of infections, resulting in a lack of studies. This study presents data on the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of AAAs from a single German center. METHODS: Between 2018 and 2022, 60 patients (median age = 10.3 years) diagnosed with malignancy and undergoing treatment were visited by an intervention dog (total visits = 100). Patients were screened for infections as per hospital policy, with additional microbiological testing performed based on symptoms. The dog was screened for human pathogens and zoonoses. Microbial data and hospitalizations were analyzed from two months prior to the first visit until two months after the last visit. Acceptance of being in the hospital, both with and without planned animal-assisted interventions and pre- and post-intervention state stress, were measured using a validated visual analogue scale (0-10). RESULTS: Patients benefited from AAAs, showing increased acceptance of being in the hospital (median: 7.25 vs. 4.50, P < 0.001) and decreased median state stress ratings one hour after the visit compared to one hour before the visit (1.00 vs. 4.25, P < 0.001). The intervention did not result in an increased number of infections or unplanned hospitalizations, and no zoonoses were detected. All microbial screening tests of the dog were negative. CONCLUSIONS: AAAs with visiting dogs in inpatient pediatric oncology are feasible and safe. Although they hold promise for enhancing patients' well-being, further prospective studies are needed. Supplementary file 2 (MP4 240076 KB).

Exploring the Benefits of Dog-Assisted Therapy for the Treatment of Complex Trauma in Children: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The manifestation of complex trauma results from exposure to severe and repetitive stressors occurring within the caregiver system. Frequently associated with child maltreatment, complex trauma can lead to impairments in multiple domains, including attachment, affect and behavioural regulation, and cognition. Treatments, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, have been shown to be efficacious, but high attrition rates point to the need for complementary methods that boost client retention and treatment efficacy. This systematic review examines whether dog-assisted therapy has beneficial impacts on the treatment of complex trauma and whether it can decrease treatment attrition among children presenting with complex trauma exposure. METHODS: We followed PRISMA guidelines to locate relevant research reports. Seven published research reports matched the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Dog-assisted therapy may increase the efficacy of standard interventions for complex trauma, although only one study formally assessed treatment retention. Across most studies, there is an overall lack of detailed information on the nature of therapeutic activities involving the dog and how these activities may complement or enhance therapy as usual. Studies were of varying methodological quality, impacting the reliability of findings. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies should aim to better describe and justify dog-assisted therapy techniques and evaluate these in comparison with standard evidence-based approaches to the treatment of childhood complex trauma.

Job Analysis and Curriculum Design of South Korean Animal-Assisted Therapy Specialists Using DACUM.

This study analyzed the jobs of animal-assisted therapy specialists using the Development of a Curriculum (DACUM) technique, a job analysis method for the duties and tasks performed in a specific job. It derived nine duties and 54 tasks through a verification process. In addition, by analyzing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes according to the task, the duties of animal-assisted therapy specialists were derived with 37 knowledge points (K), 32 skills (S), and 46 attitudes (A). The curriculum was designed based on the results derived from the job analysis. The final derived subjects were "understanding the counselee", "clinical practice", "therapy-assisted animal management", "case conceptualization", "psychological test and evaluation", "program development", "understanding and practice of counseling psychology", "animal-assisted intervention introduction", "evaluation analysis and report", "case study and practice", "case guidance and management", "training and behavior", and "animal welfare". These results can improve the professionalism of animal-assisted therapy specialists and the overall quality of the therapy site.

Animal-assisted interventions in adult hospital rehabilitation settings: A scoping review.

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) have the potential to enhance people's well-being and function and are increasingly being implemented across a range of settings. This scoping review explored how AAIs have been used in adult hospital rehabilitative care. Using JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search of four databases was undertaken. Inclusion criteria involved adults, aged >18 years, who had received AAIs in the hospital rehabilitation setting. Twenty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. Results identified two intervention types: visitation activities (n = 8 studies) and structured therapeutic interventions (n = 14 studies). Dogs were the most common animal species. Improvements in social and emotional well-being were reported across both types of interventions, with improvements in ambulation, motor skills, and verbal communication reported by those engaged in structured therapeutic interventions. Implementation challenges included a dependency on volunteer dog-handlers; the need for better recording of interventions in medical records to enable evaluation; and cost, safety, infection control, and animal welfare considerations. Strengthening the planning of AAIs is fundamental for the realization of potential outcomes from human-animal interactions in hospital rehabilitative care.

The effects of a therapy dog intervention on dental fear and anxiety in adult patients undergoing dental procedures: a pilot study.

Dental anxiety poses challenges for providing effective oral healthcare. While therapy dogs have shown promise in various medical and mental health contexts, their use for alleviating dental anxiety in adults remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the emotional and physiologic effects of therapy dogs on self-reported dental anxiety. Adults with dental anxiety were randomly assigned to an intervention group (DOG; n = 19) or a standard care group (SC; n = 14). Standard self-report measures were used to assess dental anxiety (Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear [IDAF-4C+]), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9), and generalized anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7) prior to the intervention. Participants in the DOG group received a 10-minute therapy dog intervention before dental procedures in sessions 1 and 2, while participants in the SC group rested quietly for 10 minutes before their procedure. The SC participants received the 10-minute therapy dog intervention before dental procedures in the third and final session, while patients in the DOG group received no intervention prior to their third procedure. After the dental procedures, patients completed a questionnaire about their satisfaction with the dog therapy (Therapy Satisfaction Scale) and recorded their anxiety and comfort levels on visual analog scales. Continuous electrocardiographic recording measured heart rate variability during the intervention and dental procedure. Prior to the intervention, most participants (90.9%) met the IDAF-4C+ criteria for dental anxiety, with 7 (21.2%) meeting the criteria for dental phobia. The DOG group participants expressed high satisfaction with the therapy dog intervention. No significant differences in heart rate variability were observed between the groups during dental procedures. Therapy dogs can effectively manage dental anxiety in adults with mild to moderate dental anxiety, offering potential benefits for oral healthcare.

[Integrating a "health auxiliary" dog into the hospital: the experience of the Institut Curie]. / Intégration d'un chien "auxiliaire de santé" à l'hôpital : l'expérience de l'Institut Curie.

Drop-in center offer time with animal-assisted therapy to encourage positive interactions with patients. Curie Institute has chosen to adopt a dog full-time as a "care assistant" to work with caregivers and cancer patients. In hospital, an animal requires rigorous organization in order to train the dog for its missions while guaranteeing the well-being of the animal and the safety of the patients. It is a fantastic but strict experience.

Effectiveness of animal-assisted activities and therapies for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Given the rising interest in complementary therapeutic strategies for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of animal-assisted activities and therapies (AAAT) on various ASD symptoms. Methods: A meticulous search of databases, including Scopus and PubMed, was conducted to gather relevant research on AAAT for ASD. This process led to the selection of 45 studies encompassing 1,212 participants. The chosen studies were then subjected to a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of AAAT in alleviating core ASD symptoms. Results: The meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in several core ASD symptoms due to AAAT. Notably, there were improvements in social communication (MD = -4.96, 95% CI [-7.49, -2.44]), irritability (MD = -2.38, 95% CI [-4.06, -0.71]), hyperactivity (MD = -4.03, 95% CI [-6.17, -1.89]), and different word usage skills (MD = 20.48, 95% CI [7.41, 33.55]). However, social awareness (MD = -1.63, 95% CI [-4.07, 0.81]), social cognition (MD = -3.60, 95% CI [-9.36, 2.17]), social mannerisms (MD = -0.73, 95% CI [-2.55, 1.09]), social motivation (MD = -1.21, 95% CI [-2.56, 0.13]), lethargy (MD = -1.12, 95% CI [-3.92, 1.68]), and stereotypical behaviors (MD = -0.23, 95% CI [-1.27, 0.80]) did not significantly improve. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the potential of AAAT in improving certain core symptoms of ASD, such as social communication, irritability, hyperactivity, and word usage skills. However, the effectiveness of AAAT in other ASD symptom domains remains uncertain. The research is limited by the absence of long-term follow-up data and a high risk of bias in existing studies. Therefore, while the findings indicate the promise of AAAT in specific areas, caution is advised in generalizing its efficacy across all ASD symptoms.

Cognitive mechanisms and neurological foundations of companion animals' role in enhancing human psychological well-being.

The impact of companion animals on human psychological health has garnered widespread attention. Research demonstrates that companion animals contribute positively in various ways, including reducing depression, anxiety, stress, and fostering positive emotions in humans. Recent studies have revealed significant changes in the activity levels of human emotion-related cortical areas (such as the frontal cortex and amygdala) and neurotransmitter (e.g., oxytocin, cortisol) secretion due to interaction with companion animals. However, research in this domain is still in a nascent stage, with many unknowns in the cognitive neural mechanisms involved. This paper proposes that to understand the cognitive mechanisms through which companion animals affect human psychological health, we need to examine changes in emotional cognitive processing. It aims to uncover the neurological underpinnings of how companion animals enhance human psychological well-being from the perspective of brain connectivity. This approach is expected to provide theoretical support and direction for future research and practical applications in this field.

The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Enhancing Patients' Well-Being: Systematic Study of the Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence.

Background: Animal-assisted therapy, also known as pet therapy, is a therapeutic intervention that involves animals to enhance the well-being of individuals across various populations and settings. Objective: This systematic study aims to assess the outcomes of animal-assisted therapy interventions and explore the associated policies. Methods: A total of 16 papers published between 2015 and 2023 were selected for analysis. These papers were chosen based on their relevance to the research topic of animal-assisted therapy and their availability in scholarly databases. Thematic synthesis and meta-analysis were used to synthesize the qualitative and quantitative data extracted from the selected papers. Results: The analysis included 16 studies that met the inclusion criteria and were deemed to be of moderate or higher quality. Among these studies, 4 demonstrated positive results for therapeutic mediation and one for supportive mediation in psychiatric disorders. Additionally, all studies showed positive outcomes for depression and neurological disorders. Regarding stress and anxiety, 3 studies indicated supportive mediation, while 2 studies showed activating mediation. Conclusions: The overall assessment of animal-assisted therapy shows promise as an effective intervention in promoting well-being among diverse populations. Further research and the establishment of standardized outcome assessment measures and comprehensive policies are essential for advancing the field and maximizing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy.

Guidance on Minimum Standards for Canine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Adolescent Mental Health: Delphi Expert Consensus on Health, Safety, and Canine Welfare.

As interest in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and canine-assisted psychotherapy (CAP) grows, there are increasing calls for the management of related health, safety, and welfare concerns for canines, providers, and clients. Existing health and safety guidelines lack empirical support and are, at times, contradictory. Welfare is increasingly prioritized; however, tools to monitor and manage welfare are underutilized and under-reported. The aim of this study was to provide expert consensus on the minimum health, safety, and welfare standards required to develop and deliver a CAP group program to adolescents experiencing common mental health disorders. Diverse AAT experts were recruited globally. Using Delphi methodology, over two rounds, 40 panelists reached a consensus agreement to include 32 items from a possible 49 into the minimum standards. Health and safety measures included risk assessment, veterinary screening, preventative medicine, training in infection control, and first aid. Welfare measures included training in welfare assessment, documentation of welfare, and flexible, individualized responses to promote wellbeing. Intestinal screening for parasites and the prohibition of raw food were not supported. Flexible and individualized assessment and management of canine welfare were supported over fixed and time-limited work schedules. Clinical practice implications are discussed, and recommendations are made.

Dog-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Patients with Intellectual Disabilities.

(1) Background: Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) is an experiential intervention to promote psychological, physical, and social functioning in children and adults. Only few studies have been conducted on DAT in adults with a mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF). The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with MID-BIF undergoing DAT in a mental health care facility. (2) Method: Seven patients completed 13 to 15 sessions of DAT. Within two weeks of completing the program, they were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The transcripts of the interviews were analysed using interpretational phenomenological analysis. In addition, the patients' relatives and the DAT therapist were interviewed, and a focus group discussion took place with each patient's treatment team. (3) Results: The patients' experiences were predominantly positive. Physical contact with the dog calmed them down. The dog offered them emotional support and helped them to make contact inside and outside the therapy and the setting where they lived. The patients also liked the fact that DAT focused on the dog rather than their problems, that the therapy was experiential and using a positive approach, and that, during the therapy, they did not feel like a patient but a human being. DAT is a promising therapy for patients with MID-BIF in mental health care facilities, but more research into its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and ways to implement DAT in clinical practice is needed to make more definitive statements.

Effects of including a dog on treatment motivation and the therapeutic alliance in child and adolescent psychotherapy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Motivation and a therapeutic alliance are crucial for successful therapy. It is assumed that dogs can increase motivation and help support therapeutic relationships. This is one of the reasons for including dogs in psychotherapy. While the positive effects of psychotherapy with dogs have been documented over the past years, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of animal-assisted psychotherapy. This study therefore aims to investigate whether and how the presence of a dog affects motivation and the therapeutic alliance in child and adolescent psychotherapy. METHODS: The study is a randomized controlled trial assessing motivation and the therapeutic alliance during the first five sessions of psychotherapy attended by children and adolescents with different psychiatric disorders. We will recruit 150 children and adolescents and randomly assign them to one of three conditions: (a) a dog is present but not integrated in the therapeutic narrative, (b) a dog is actively integrated in the therapeutic narrative, and (c) no dog is present. The children's and adolescents' evaluations of the therapeutic alliance and of their motivation will be assessed as the primary outcomes using standardized questionnaires before and after the first five therapy sessions as well as at follow-up. Further outcomes include the therapists' evaluations of the therapeutic alliance and their motivation, treatment adherence of the children and adolescents, and treatment satisfaction of the children and adolescents, their parents, and of the therapists. Interventions are conducted by experienced therapists who regularly work with their dogs. Outcomes will be analyzed using general linear models, with the treatment group as a fixed factor and the baseline values as covariates. DISCUSSION: This study provides information on the possible motivation and alliance-enhancing effects of integrating a dog into child and adolescent psychotherapy. This is relevant for practice, as these two components are strong predictors of therapy outcome. Moreover, the study will contribute to a better understanding of how a dog should be incorporated into psychotherapeutic settings. This can lead to a more purposeful inclusion of dogs in psychotherapy for children and adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05384808, on 20 May 2022.

An Exploratory Study into the Backgrounds and Perspectives of Equine-Assisted Service Practitioners.

Equine-Assisted Services (EASs) are commonplace in today's society, but vary widely in both theoretical and practical applications. Until now, practitioners' experiences and perspectives in relation to these services have received little attention. To address this, a purpose-designed online questionnaire was distributed to EAS practitioners, exploring issues relating to the nature of the service provided, practice patterns, practitioner education, perceived knowledge, challenges faced and the future direction of these services. An analysis revealed a significant association between practitioners' backgrounds and the nature of the service offered, as well as perceived knowledge. Median EAS training received to first practice was 20 days of block release over a year; however, nearly half of the sample (42.4%) reported less training than this. Equine-specific training was more limited, with 41.5% of practitioners having no horse-relevant qualifications. The most important challenges reported by practitioners involved client and equine welfare, financial sustainability and raising awareness of EAS. This research highlights the diverse nature of EAS and also raises important challenges and possible opportunities for development. Findings suggest that more progress is needed to professionalise and legitimise the area to support and help practitioners provide the best service for all concerned.

Effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy and pet-robot interventions in reducing depressive symptoms among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Systematic reviews suggest that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and pet-robot interventions (PRI) achieve a reduction in mental health variables such as depressive symptoms. However, these systematic reviews include both randomised and non-randomised studies, which prevents an adequate assessment of the effect of confounding variables. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of AAT and PRI through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in reducing depression in older adults. METHODS: Our study is a systematic review. We searched three databases of scientific articles: SCOPUS, Web of Science and PubMed. We included studies that their population was older adults, aged 65 years or older, with or without a clinical condition, clinical diagnosis based on mental examination/test or documentation from medical records, accredited by the facilities' staff. We included trials in which the comparator was a passive intervention or an active intervention. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2) to assess the risk of bias for each study. Our study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023393740). RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included in this systematic review. However, only 19 trials were included in the meta-analysis. At the overall risk of bias level, 78.9% of the studies were at high risk of bias (n = 15). We found that AAT (g= -0.72; 95%CI -1.13 to -0.31; p = 0.001) has a moderate and statistically significant effect as an intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults. However, the PRIs do not show a significant effect on reducing depressive symptoms in older adults. In addition, a sub-analysis based on dog-assisted therapy (g= -0.65; 95%CI -1.21 to -0.08; p = 0.025), a specific type of AAT, showed a modest effect on reducing depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our study concluded that AAT and DAT had a moderate and statistically significant effect as interventions to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults. On the other hand, PRI did not show a significant effect in reducing depressive symptoms.

Animais que curam: um olhar da família e terapeuta / Animals that heal: a family and therapist perspective

Conhecer e compreender as contribuições da Terapia Assistida por Animais no desenvolvimento do indivíduo e no restabelecimento da saúde, na concepção dos cuidadores e familiares. Método: pesquisa descritiva exploratória, com abordagem qualitativa, em uma empresa privada de Intervenções Assistidas com Animais da região noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, no segundo semestre de 2022. Os participantes foram os familiares e/ou cuidadores dos praticantes e a terapeuta. A coleta de dados deu-se por meio de questionário semiestruturado e a análise dos dados através da análise de conteúdo das falas e aprovada pelo parecer nº 5.652.286. Resultados: Verifica-se que os benefícios no desenvolvimento estão associados a aspectos como melhora no fortalecimento do tônus muscular, na linguagem, na autonomia, na coordenação motora, na tranquilidade e na afetividade. Conclusão: Essa intervenção tem grande potencial dentro do tratamento dos praticantes, e merece ser cada vez mais estudada.(AU)

To know and understand the contributions of Animal Assisted Therapy in the development of the individual and the restoration of health, in the conception of caregivers and family members. Method: exploratory descriptive research, with a qualitative approach, in a private Animal Assisted Interventions company in the northwest region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in the second half of 2022. The participants were the family members and/or caregivers of the practitioners and the therapist . Data collection took place through a semi-structured questionnaire and data analysis through content analysis of the statements and approved by opinion no. 5,652,286. Results: It appears that the benefits in development are associated with aspects such as improvements in strengthening muscle tone, language, autonomy, motor coordination, tranquility and affectivity. Conclusion: This intervention has great potential in the treatment of practitioners, and deserves to be increasingly studied.(AU)

Conocer y comprender los aportes de la Terapia Asistida con Animales en el desarrollo del individuo y el restablecimiento de la salud, en la concepción de los cuidadores y familiares. Método: investigación descriptiva exploratoria, con enfoque cualitativo, en una empresa privada de Intervenciones Asistidas con Animales en la región noroeste del Estado de Rio Grande do Sul, en el segundo semestre de 2022. Los participantes fueron los familiares y/o cuidadores de los practicantes y el terapeuta. La recolección de datos se realizó a través de un cuestionario semiestructurado y el análisis de los datos mediante análisis de contenido de los enunciados aprobados por dictamen nº 5.652.286. Resultados: Parece que los beneficios en el desarrollo están asociados a aspectos como mejoras en el fortalecimiento del tono muscular, el lenguaje, la autonomía, la coordinación motora, la tranquilidad y la afectividad. Conclusión: Esta intervención tiene un gran potencial en el tratamiento de los profesionales y merece ser cada vez más estudiada

Implementation feasibility of animal-assisted therapy in a pediatric intensive care unit: effectiveness on reduction of pain, fear, and anxiety.

Animal-assisted therapies are an innovative strategy within health care humanization initiatives, and they could play a role in the reduction of pain or anxiety. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing animal-assisted therapy in a pediatric intensive care unit and its effectiveness for the reduction of pain, fear, and anxiety. A prospective, quasi-experimental study of animal-assisted therapy was designed in the pediatric intensive care unit of the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre of Madrid, from January 2019 to December 2019. The study sample included patients who had been admitted to the unit and were over 3 years old. Satisfaction surveys were collected from the patients, family, and health personnel involved. Physiological variables and the level of pain (visual analog scale or Wong-Baker scale), fear (Child Medical Fear Scale), and anxiety (modified Yale Preoperatory Anxiety Scale) were evaluated before and after each session. Any existence of adverse events was recorded. A total of 74 therapy sessions were performed on 61 patients. All sessions were completed without any adverse effects. A total of 164 surveys were collected, providing an overall project rating of 9.69 out of a possible 10. The survey comments were found to be positive in most cases. No differences were found in the physiological variables measured before and after each session. There was a statistically significant decrease in pain, fear, and anxiety levels (p < 0.01).   Conclusion: The implementation of an animal-assisted therapy project in a pediatric intensive care unit is feasible and safe and has a high degree of acceptance among both participants and healthcare staff. Animal-assisted therapy is effective for the reduction of pain, fear, and anxiety, and therefore, it could be considered an adjunct to non-pharmacological therapy. What is Known: • Animal assisted therapies (AAT) are an innovative strategy that could be beneficial to help pediatrics patients cope with admission difficulties and could even play a role in reducing pain, anxiety and/or delirium. • To date there are not studies to analyze the effectiveness of AAT in the field of Pediatric Intesive Care. What is New: • Our study confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation of an AAT in the field of Pediatric Intensive Care with a high degree of acceptance by participants, caregivers and healthcare personnel. • AAT demonstrated a reduction in pain, fear and anxiety in pediatrics patients admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Canine-Assisted Occupational Therapy for Children within a Student-Led University Clinic: The Influence on Child Engagement from the Perspectives of Student and Parent Participants.

AIMS: Animal-assisted therapy has gained increased attention in occupational therapy. Yet there remains minimal education opportunities available. In addition to supporting student learning, student-led clinics have the potential to provide a valuable, cost-effective health service to the community. This study aimed to explore the potential benefits to the children clients participating in a student-led, canine-assisted occupational therapy pediatric clinic from the perspectives of the students and parents. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine occupational therapy students, and five parents to describe their experience. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants emphasized how the presence of the therapy dog supported child engagement within the therapy session. Ways in which participants believed the therapy dog influenced the children's engagement were described within three themes. The first highlighted the importance of the relationship between the children and the therapy dog. The second described how this relationship facilitated a sense of safety within the sessions. The third captured how this sense of safety supported the children's participation within their meaningful occupations. CONCLUSIONS: Parents and students involved in the canine-assisted occupational therapy clinic perceived that canine-assisted therapy was supportive of child engagement in therapy.

Multispecies Occupations Involving Equines: An Action-Oriented Inquiry to Inform Occupational Therapy Practitioners.

Research related to human-animal engagement often fails to address the complexity and nuance present in occupations and occupational therapy services that incorporate animals. The goal of this research was to develop a basic understanding of multispecies occupations (MSO) involving humans and equines, focusing on the action-oriented processes and transactions during socialization in outdoor, non-therapeutic contexts. We employed a multi-modal qualitative design with interviews and videography with n = 6 horse-human dyads, creating opportunities to understand and represent engagement beyond anthropocentric norms. Findings included a variety of dyad-specific features of occupation, including processes of embodied communication, the presence of behavioral synchrony, and perceptions of attunement arising from these processes. Examining MSO via a multi-modal inquiry offers new perspectives about the nature and experience of such occupations and supports a deeper understanding of potential mechanisms of change when animals are incorporated in occupational therapy interventions and practice.

Rudolph, the kids' ward reindeer: a scoping review of the effects of support animals on the well-being of healthcare staff.

BACKGROUND: Many systematic reviews identify support animals or animal assisted activity as a beneficial and standard practice in several medical disciplines for patients (children, adolescents, and adults) and residents in care homes. A variety of animals are used such as dogs, cats, ponies, horses, alpacas, reindeer, penguins, rabbits, and tarantulas. Our objective was to explore the evidence regarding effects of animal assisted activity on a further population of interest; namely, healthcare staff. METHODS: We asked the question "how do support animals in healthcare settings affect the well-being of healthcare staff?" As an addendum, we were also interested in what - possibly more unique - animals have visited healthcare settings at Christmas time in particular. We conducted a scoping literature review using PubMed and Web of Science (search as of 26 April 2023).  RESULTS: Twenty studies (in the USA, Australia, Europe; dogs: n = 19; cats: n = 1) since 2002 included: studies with biological measures (n = 3), longitudinal survey studies with analyses (n = 5), cross-sectional survey studies with analyses (n = 2), and cross-sectional survey studies with descriptive statistics (n = 10). Overall, animal assisted activities appear to be well-received by staff and there do not seem to be negative impacts on staff well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Relevant positive effects and avenues of research are identified. Our review suggests that, but not exactly how, animal assisted activity benefits staff. Study evidence is limited with most studies being cross-sectional, descriptive, having low participant numbers, and mostly only involving dogs. Nonetheless, the evidence is mostly positive. The potential of animal assisted activities impacting positively on staff well-being warrants systematic research. Gaps in hard-fact-evidence should not deter us - especially at the festive season - to encourage work with, and systematic research regarding, support animals that provide warmth, empathy, comfort, and more in healthcare settings.

Animal assisted therapy in pediatric mental health conditions: A review.

Animal assisted therapy (AAT) has been explored as a treatment option for children with mental health disorders and associated symptoms. AAT can be implemented in inpatient, outpatient, and residential care settings. Some studies demonstrate significant improvement in symptom severity while others report only modest results. In this review, we summarize previous studies that have investigated the applications of AAT for pediatric mental health treatment, focusing on management of symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and internet gaming disorder. Current studies on AAT and mental health care tend to lack generalizability due to being single-site studies, and comparisons between studies are difficult because studies tend to adopt different definitions of AAT. Future studies examining the effects of AAT on mental health in general and on symptoms for specific conditions are needed before AAT is widely recommended for the pediatric population.