Increasing participation in research with therapy dogs: A qualitative study at a large urban mental health and addiction hospital.

The benefits of involving patients as partners in research across diverse medical and psychiatric settings are well established in the literature. However, researchers continue to struggle to access, engage and retain participants from hard-to-reach populations. The main objective of this study was to co-create pet therapy activities with patients admitted for serious and complex mental illness to a large urban mental health and addiction hospital. Informed by the principles of participatory action research methodology, we conducted focus group discussions with 38 inpatients in seven different clinical units. An experienced volunteer handler and a certified therapy dog helped facilitate our discussions. Participating researchers, recreational therapists, volunteer handlers and our participants all reported that the presence of a certified therapy dog at each of our discussions was integral to their success. Certified therapy dogs increased the motivation to participate in our study, helped to build rapport with participants and created connections in our discussions that enriched our data. To our knowledge our study is the first to demonstrate the value of using a therapy dog as a participatory research tool in a healthcare setting. The authors believe that therapy dogs are a low-tech intervention that could be used effectively to engage hard-to-reach populations in research about their treatment and care in a diverse range of medical settings. These findings support the creation of a pilot study to test the value of including therapy dogs in patient-centered research with vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.

Equine-assisted therapeutic activities and their influence on the heart rate variability: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of equine-assisted therapeutic interventions on users' heart rate variability, using this said variability as an objective biological variable related to stress levels. METHOD: A systematic review has been carried out using the methodology suggested in the PRISMA declaration following systematic searches in academic databases. RESULTS: 432 registers were initially identified; however, in the screening and suitability process, nine papers were included in the review. With one exception, all of them reported that equine-assisted therapeutic activities had a favourable effect on users' heart rate variability as such activities favour a state of relaxation by activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System. The analysis of the quality of the evidence and the confirmation of the bias in the works indicate that these results must be considered with caution. DISCUSSION: Although these preliminary results are promising, more rigorous clinical trials are necessary to overcome the methodological limitations of the works.

Implementation of Assisted Therapy With Dogs in the Therapeutic Approach to People With Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

A holistic intervention is needed for individuals who suffer from autism spectrum disorders. Our objective was to work with these individuals in a multidisciplinary manner through the use of animal-assisted therapy, finding improvements in the experimental group as compared with the control group in the different evaluated areas.

Effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy in the Pediatric Population: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Studies.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the results of controlled studies evaluating the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in children. METHODS: Eleven databases were searched following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement recommendations, and references from included studies and previous reviews were examined. No date or language filters were applied. Only controlled study designs, including those using wait-list controls, that studied a specific condition or illness were included. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved. Nine were conducted in children with autism spectrum disorders, 10 in cerebral palsy (CP), 2 in Down syndrome, 3 in pain, and 2 in other conditions. Qualitative synthesis showed a small but significant contribution of AAT to the management of these conditions. Meta-analysis showed a mean difference in improvement in the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 scale in children with CP of 1.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] -2.00 to 5.23) and a mean difference for 5-point pain scales of -0.81 (95% CI -1.32 to 0.30), both favoring AAT. CONCLUSION: Animal-assisted therapy may be useful as a complementary intervention in the management of children with CP and pain. Although results are in general positive for the management of children with Down syndrome and autism, the diversity of scales used to measure outcomes makes it difficult to establish true effectiveness. The application of simple corrective measures in the randomization process would greatly improve the quality of evidence. It is necessary to reach a consensus between AAT researchers regarding appropriate instruments to provide higher-quality evidence in further studies.

Cuantificación de la efectividad de una intervención terapéutica en geriatría: aportes a Folch et al / Quantification of the effectiveness of a therapeutic intervention in geriatrics: Contributions by Folch et al

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Animal assisted interventions in practice: mapping Italian providers.

Animal assisted interventions (AAI) have become increasingly popular in Western countries during the last fifty years, attracting a lot of attention both from the general public and the scientific community. In Italy, similarly to other countries, this evolution has been accompanied by the diffusion of associations delivering AAI. What is the current state of AAI in Italy? How many realities are dealing with AAI? What professionals and animals are involved? The results of the questionnaire here reported have the objective to answer these questions, outlining a snapshot of the distribution and the main features of AAI within Italian territory. According to the 208 respondents, the sector has seen a remarkable expansion over the last twenty years. AAI providers are located mainly in the North and Centre of the country, the majority of them are arranged in associations or AAI specialized centers and work mainly with dogs and equids in animal assisted activity (AAA) programs addressed to disabled people and children. The picture of the sector still appears fragmented in particular regarding team of professionals involved and their training; nonetheless, the recent set up of national guidelines by the Italian authorities has the objective of standardizing the field and defining best practices for each type of intervention.

The Efficacy of Dog Assisted Therapy in Detained Drug Users: A Pilot Study in an Italian Attenuated Custody Institute.

Drug addiction is a major care and safety challenge in prison context. Nowadays, rehabilitation and specific therapeutic programs are suggested to improve health and well-being of inmates during their detention time and to reduce substance abuse relapse after release from prison. Among these programs, several studies reported the benefits for inmates coming from animal assisted interventions. In this pilot controlled study, we investigated the efficacy of a dog assisted therapy program addressed to 22 drug addicted male inmates housed in an attenuated custody institute in Italy. The study lasted six months, the treated group (12 inmates) was involved once a week for one hour in 20 dog assisted therapy sessions, whereas the control group (10 inmates) followed the standard rehabilitation program. One week before the beginning and one week after the end of the sessions, all inmates involved were submitted to symptom checklist-90-revised and Kennedy axis V. Inmates involved in the dog assisted therapy sessions significantly improved their social skills, reducing craving, anxiety and depression symptoms compared to the control group. Despite the limitation due to the small number of inmates enrolled and to the absence of follow up, we found these results encouraging to the use of dog assisted therapy as co-therapy in drug addicted inmates rehabilitation programs, and we claim the need of more extensive study on this subject.

Animal-assisted interventions: A national survey of health and safety policies in hospitals, eldercare facilities, and therapy animal organizations.

BACKGROUND: Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) programs are increasing in popularity, but it is unknown to what extent therapy animal organizations that provide AAI and the hospitals and eldercare facilities they work with implement effective animal health and safety policies to ensure safety of both animals and humans. Our study objective was to survey hospitals, eldercare facilities, and therapy animal organizations on their AAI policies and procedures. METHODS: A survey of United States hospitals, eldercare facilities, and therapy animal organizations was administered to assess existing health and safety policies related to AAI programs. RESULTS: Forty-five eldercare facilities, 45 hospitals, and 27 therapy animal organizations were surveyed. Health and safety policies varied widely and potentially compromised human and animal safety. For example, 70% of therapy animal organizations potentially put patients at risk by allowing therapy animals eating raw meat diets to visit facilities. In general, hospitals had stricter requirements than eldercare facilities. DISCUSSION: This information suggests that there are gaps between the policies of facilities and therapy animal organizations compared with recent guidelines for animal visitation in hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Facilities with AAI programs need to review their policies to address recent AAI guidelines to ensure the safety of animals and humans involved.

[Animal-assisted therapy for demented patients in acute care hospitals]. / Tiergestützte Therapie im Demenzbereich eines Akutkrankenhauses.

INTRODUCTION: In nursing homes animal-assisted therapy has been applied in demented elderly patients for several years. There are no studies on this treatment in hospitals, especially in geriatric departments. METHODS: From September 2010 to November 2011 105 in-patients, among them 77 female, participated in a 30 min dog-assisted group therapy (mean age 84,4 ± 6,56 years). The patients had cognitive and functional impairments (mean MMSE 18 points, mean Barthel Index 34,6 points). RESULTS: Adverse events were not observed. Thirteen patients discontinued the treatment early, due to different reasons. The psychologist, who attended the treatment, observed an improvement of mood in 58 % and an improvement in activity in 54 %. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Animal assisted therapy can be safely established in a hospital among patients with cognitive impairment. The data support the hypothesis that animal assisted therapy improves mood, communication and activity in patients with cognitive impairment.

Impact of animal-assisted therapy for outpatients with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVES: Animal-assisted therapy using dogs trained to be calm and provide comfort to strangers has been used as a complementary therapy for a range of medical conditions. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of brief therapy dog visits for fibromyalgia patients attending a tertiary outpatient pain management facility compared with time spent in a waiting room. DESIGN: Open label with waiting room control. SETTING: Tertiary care, university-based, outpatient pain management clinic. SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of fibromyalgia patients was obtained through advertisements posted in the clinic. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were able to spend clinic waiting time with a certified therapy dog instead of waiting in the outpatient waiting area. When the therapy dog was not available, individuals remained in the waiting area. OUTCOME MEASURES.: Self-reported pain, fatigue, and emotional distress were recorded using 11-point numeric rating scales before and after the therapy dog visit or waiting room time. RESULTS: Data were evaluated from 106 therapy dog visits and 49 waiting room controls, with no significant between-group demographic differences in participants. Average intervention duration was 12 minutes for the therapy dog visit and 17 minutes for the waiting room control. Significant improvements were reported for pain, mood, and other measures of distress among patients after the therapy dog visit, but not the waiting room control. Clinically meaningful pain relief (≥2 points pain severity reduction) occurred in 34% after the therapy dog visit and 4% in the waiting room control. Outcome was not affected by the presence of comorbid anxiety or depression. CONCLUSIONS: Brief therapy dog visits may provide a valuable complementary therapy for fibromyalgia outpatients.

[The popular zootherapy in Bahia State: registration of new animal species used as medicinal resources]. / A zooterapia popular no Estado da Bahia: registro de novas espécies animais utilizadas como recursos medicinais.

This article deals with the use of animals as medicinal resources in Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil. The data come from a processional evaluation of academic performance, since it was an exercise requested by the professor of the discipline Ethnobiology (2007.2 semester) to the students of the course Bahia State Teachers' Undergraduation of Feira de Santana State University. They were asked to make a brief survey, in their respective cities, on the use of animals as medicines. Forty-one students, from 21 cities of the country of Bahia State, have participated with data. A total of 95 animals (common names) were recorded, from which 17 are new additions to the list of medicinal animal species already published. The recording of the use of animals as folk medicines in the state of Bahia provides a significant contribution to the phenomenon of zootherapy, because it opens a space to debate about conservation biology, health public policies, sustainable management of natural resources, bioprospection, and patent. It is necessary to carry out more ethnozoological studies both to comprehend the true importance of zootherapy to the traditional communities and to develop some strategies of sustainable management and use of animal species, especially for those under risk of extinction.

A zooterapia popular no Estado da Bahia: registro de novas espécies animais utilizadas como recursos medicinais / The popular zootherapy in Bahia state: registration of new animal species used as medicinal resources

Este artigo discute o uso de animais como recursos medicinais no Estado da Bahia, nordeste brasileiro. Os dados resultam de uma avaliação processual de desempenho acadêmico, uma vez que se tratou de um exercício requerido pelo professor da disciplina Etnobiologia (semestre 2007.2) aos estudantes do curso de Formação de Professores do Estado da Bahia da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, quando lhes foi solicitado que fizessem um breve registro, em suas respectivas cidades, sobre o uso de animais medicinais. Participaram 41 estudantes, provenientes de 21 cidades do interior do estado. Foram registrados 95 animais (nomes comuns), dos quais dezessete são novos acréscimos à lista de animais medicinais anteriormente publicada. O registro da utilização medicinal de animais no Estado da Bahia fornece uma contribuição relevante ao fenômeno da zooterapia, abrindo espaço para debates sobre biologia da conservação, políticas de saúde pública, manejo sustentável dos recursos naturais, prospecção biológica e patente. Necessita-se desenvolver mais estudos etnozoológicos tanto para compreender a importância real da zooterapia para as comunidades tradicionais, quanto para desenvolver estratégias de manejo e uso sustentáveis das espécies animais, especialmente daquelas em risco de extinção.

This article deals with the use of animals as medicinal resources in Bahia state, Northeastern Brazil. The data come from a processional evaluation of academic performance, since it was an exercise requested by the professor of the discipline Ethnobiology (2007.2 semester) to the students of the course Bahia State Teachers' Undergraduation of Feira de Santana State University. They were asked to make a brief survey, in their respective cities, on the use of animals as medicines. Forty-one students, from 21 cities of the country of Bahia State, have participated with data. A total of 95 animals (common names) were recorded, from which 17 are new additions to the list of medicinal animal species already published. The recording of the use of animals as folk medicines in the state of Bahia provides a significant contribution to the phenomenon of zootherapy, because it opens a space to debate about conservation biology, health public policies, sustainable management of natural resources, bioprospection, and patent. It is necessary to carry out more ethnozoological studies both to comprehend the true importance of zootherapy to the traditional communities and to develop some strategies of sustainable management and use of animal species, especially for those under risk of extinction.