The Use of Therapy Dogs in the Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus.

Pet ownership and therapy dogs as companion animals and emotional support have potential health benefits. We report the experiences at a COVID-19 vaccination center after authorizing children's vaccines. When the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years was authorized for emergency use, we adapted the center's space to receive children, adding cartoon posters and balloons and using children's adhesive bandages, among others. Located at a Campus with six health professional schools, medical students dressed as storybook or movie characters. Children were asked to make drawings during the post vaccination observation period. We incorporated therapy dogs as part of our strategy for a child-friendly center during vaccination activities. Parents expressed that the COVID-19 immunization seemed to be better accepted by children as the dogs in the center entertained them. Many children were in close contact with the dogs while receiving the shots, caressing them, or having the small dogs on their laps. Children's drawings reflected colors, flowers, families, images of happiness, dogs with their names, their own pets, and superhero characters. There were no negative images of syringes, injections, or germs. To our knowledge, this was the only vaccine center in Puerto Rico that implemented therapy dogs as a strategy to create a friendly environment for COVID 19 immunization efforts targeted for children. Based on this experience, we encourage the use of therapy dogs in other immunization activities and will further gather prospective data in the future.

Dogs' social susceptibility is differentially affected by various dog-Human interactions. A study on family dogs, former shelter dogs and therapy dogs.

When pre-treated with social stimuli prior to testing, dogs are more susceptible to human influence in a food preference task. This means, after a positive social interaction they are more willing to choose the smaller amount of food indicated by the human, as opposed to their baseline preference for the bigger amount. In the current study we investigate if and how various forms of social interaction modulate choices in the same social susceptibility task, testing dogs with varying early life history (pet dogs, therapy dogs, former shelter dogs). In line with previous studies, dogs in general were found to be susceptible to human influence as reflected in the reduced number of "bigger" choices in the human influence, compared to baseline, trials. This was true not only for pet dogs with a normal life history, but also for dogs adopted from a shelter. Therapy dogs, however, did not uniformly change their preference for the bigger quantity of food in the human influence trials; they only did so if prior to testing they had been pre-treated with social stimuli by their owner (but not by a stranger). Pet dogs were also more influenced after pre-treatment with social stimuli by their owner compared to ignoring and separation; however after pre-treatment by a stranger their behaviour did not differ from ignoring and separation. Former shelter dogs on the other hand were equally influenced regardless of pre-treatment by owner versus stranger. In summary these results show that dogs' social susceptibility is modulated by both interactions immediately preceding the test as well as by long term social experiences.

Service and emotional support animals in pediatrics.

There is a growing body of evidence of the positive psychological and social impacts animals can have on individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities. Service animals have been used primarily in the adult population. Recently they have become more prevalent in pediatric care to improve the quality of life and emotional well-being of children with physical and mental health challenges. Studies have shown that both service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) improve physical, psychological, and social health of children with chronic medical conditions and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Due to the increasing use of service animals and ESAs in pediatrics, providers need to be aware of which children may benefit from having a service animal or ESA, the process to obtain them and recognize the practical, financial, and ethical considerations or challenges children and their families may encounter. This article aims to provide guidance on the differences between service and emotional support animals and considerations for their use in pediatric care.

Therapy Dog Presence in an Undergraduate Nursing Program.

ABSTRACT: Research supports the use of animal-assisted interactions and pet therapy in various settings. Undergraduate nursing students experience high levels of stress and anxiety which often continue as they become professional nurses. Entering the workforce equipped with positive coping strategies may help newly licensed nurses to combat stressors. This qualitative descriptive study examined the experiences of undergraduate nursing students with the presence of a therapy dog. Four major themes regarding the role of therapy dogs were identified: as a coping strategy, as a mood moderator, as a positive distraction, and for community building.

"Dogs on Call": A Community-Engaged Human Subjects Training with Hospital Based Therapy Dog Teams.

Problem: As community-engaged research (CER) methods evolve, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) must adapt policies to facilitate CER research. This paper describes a novel collaboration between hospital-based therapy dog volunteer teams (CERs), academic faculty, and an IRB. Subjects: CER volunteers delivered a canine-assisted intervention to hospitalized adults in a clinical trial. Methods: IRB members and faculty developed a human subjects protections training tailored to the volunteer handlers' role as study interventionists including an interactive video- and discussion-based training with a knowledge assessment. Findings: Fourteen volunteer handlers were trained. The expedited IRB review period was similar to national average rates (18 days.) Volunteer handlers have conducted 107 research visits with little patient attrition. Conclusion: Tailored human subjects trainings facilitate research with interventions delivered by people who are not typically involved in research. Bespoke CER human subjects training requires collaboration between researchers and IRBs and flexibility in IRB policy regarding CER.

Understanding the Role of Therapy Dogs in Human Health Promotion.

Dogs may provide humans with a range of physical, mental and social benefits. Whilst there is growing scientific evidence of benefits to humans, there has been less focus on the impact to canine health, welfare and ethical considerations for the dogs. The importance of animal welfare is increasingly acknowledged, indicating that the Ottawa Charter should be extended to include the welfare of non-human animals supporting the promotion of human health. Therapy dog programmes are delivered across a variety of settings including hospitals, aged care facilities and mental health services, highlighting the important role they play in human health outcomes. Research has shown that that there are biomarkers for stress in humans and other animals engaged in human-animal interactions. This review aims to assess the impact of human-animal interactions on therapy dogs engaged in providing support to human health. While challenging, it is paramount to ensure that, within the framework of One Welfare, the welfare of therapy dogs is included, as it is a key factor for future sustainability. We identified a range of concerns due to the lack of guidelines and standards to protect the wellbeing of the dogs engaged in these programmes. Extension of the Ottawa Charter to include the welfare of non-human animals with leveraging through a One Welfare approach would promote animal and human health beyond current boundaries.

Remotely and collaboratively evaluating a campus-based therapy dog program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the wellbeing of university students and adults in general, emphasizing the need for mental health programming that was compliant with physical distancing mandates. The present evaluation investigated mental health and social connection within the context of COVID-19 by remotely evaluating a virtual animal-assisted activity at the University of Saskatchewan - PAWS Your Stress. The purpose of this article is to outline our evaluation methods and findings, while calling specific attention to the collaborative strategies that were implemented within a remote, time-sensitive context. The evaluation findings revealed that remote animal-assisted programming can facilitate connections with humans and animals, and promote multiple mental health benefits, despite the lack of physical interaction with the animals. Our lessons learned indicate that remote program logic modelling workshops are feasible when suited to audience demographics. Further, our experience suggests that the Most Significant Change technique (a qualitative, participatory, storytelling method that elicits outcome data) can be useful in time-restricted evaluations, and the necessity of central steps in the process may vary depending on evaluation goals. This project has implications for future evaluation work, by demonstrating the effective use of remote methods that allowed for successful stakeholder collaboration.

Considerations for the Writing of Certification Letters Endorsing Use of Emotional Support Animals.

Emotional support animals (ESAs) are different from service animals, therapy animals, and other disability-related assistance animals. Although pet ownership may confer psychological benefits, limited research has supported the use of ESAs to realize such benefits. If clinicians are asked to write a letter of support for use of an ESA, they need to be familiar with relevant federal, state, and local laws that regulate ESAs and with the essential components of an ESA evaluation. This article provides an overview of terminology; federal, state, and local laws related to ESAs; and clinical and ethical considerations for clinicians who decide to write these letters. The authors also review liability issues related to writing these letters, including those related to ESA aggression.

The Impact of Campus-Based Therapy Dogs on the Mood and Affect of University Students.

University students experience a high level of stress, which could potentially affect how they manage stressful situations beyond university, such as when entering the workforce. Although universities offer counseling services and various health promotion programs, there is reluctance and negative perceptions about utilizing these from students. Further research is needed to explore the effectiveness of therapy dog interventions in human interactions that is quantifiable and embraces the elements of health promotion. This study aimed to investigate the impact of therapy dog interventions on students' moods across a multi-campus university during a 2-week final examination period. Two hundred and sixty-five students participated in the study involving a multi-campus university. The intervention group and control group completed a questionnaire involving the positive affect negative affect schedule (PANAS), a 20-item scale that measures a person's affect at the time. The intervention group (n = 170) had a higher average of total PANAS scores (mean = 77.63, standard deviation = 10.975) compared to the control group (n = 95) (mean = 69.41, standard deviation = 13.442). The results were statistically significant (mean difference = 8.219, 95% CI = 5.213-11.224, p < 0.05) with a t-score of 5.385. Students who engaged with therapy dogs on campus during the examination period were more likely to have a more positive affect. The results suggest that universities should include therapy dog programs within their health promotion programs for students, as these may help improve their mood and reduce the stress associated with university examinations.

The Impact of Therapy Dogs on Prelicensure Baccalaureate Nursing Student Test Anxiety.

AIM: This study examined the impact of a therapy dog intervention on baccalaureate nursing student test anxiety. BACKGROUND: Nursing student test anxiety may hinder academic performance and program outcomes. Considering this negative impact, it is essential to implement anxiety-reducing strategies. Interaction with therapy dogs is linked with test anxiety reduction; however, minimal studies have explored this topic. METHOD: A pretest/posttest quasi-experimental design was used to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on test anxiety. Repeated measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, heart rate, and cortisol levels. The multisite convenience sample included 91 junior-level prelicensure BSN students. RESULTS: The intervention had a statistically significant impact on test anxiety reduction, noted by a decrease in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores, heart rate, and salivary cortisol levels ( p = .00). CONCLUSION: Therapy dog interactions are an effective strategy to reduce test anxiety. The findings from this study may assist educators to implement future interventions.

Therapeutic and Economic Benefits of Service Dogs Versus Emotional Support Dogs for Veterans With PTSD.

OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to assess the therapeutic and economic benefits of service dogs versus emotional support dogs for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: Veterans with PTSD (N=227) participating in a multicenter trial were randomly assigned to receive a service or emotional support dog; 181 veterans received a dog and were followed up for 18 months. Primary outcomes included overall functioning (assessed with World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale II [WHODAS 2.0]) and quality of life (Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey [VR-12]). Secondary outcomes included PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5), suicidal ideation, depression, sleep quality, health care costs and utilization, medication adherence, employment, and productivity. RESULTS: Participants paired with a dog had a mean±SD age of 50.6±13.6 years (range 22-79), and most were male (80%), White (66%), and non-Hispanic (91%). Adjusted linear mixed repeated-measures models indicated no difference between the two groups on WHODAS 2.0 or VR-12 scores. Participants with service dogs had a 3.7-point greater reduction in PTSD symptoms versus participants with emotional support dogs (p=0.036). No reduced health care utilization or cost was associated with receiving a service dog. Veterans with service dogs had an increase of 10 percentage points in antidepressant adherence compared with those with emotional support dogs (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both groups appeared to benefit from having a service or emotional support dog. No significant differences in improved functioning or quality of life were observed between the groups. Those in the service dog group had a greater reduction in PTSD symptoms and better antidepressant adherence, improvements that should be explored further.

"Giving voice to the voiceless": An exploration of the grieving ritual for a therapy dog.

The use of animal-assisted therapy with children who have experienced trauma is receiving increasing attention in the literature. However, there is a lack of attention given to the death of therapy animals. The scholarship on the death of animal companions highlights a varying depth of acknowledgment of children's grief. This article draws on the clinical experience of one therapy center's approach to the death of a therapy dog. Knowledge gained from this experience highlighted the necessity of acknowledging the death, the need for clear communication with children and young people, and the importance of involving children in a memorial ritual.

Care of Patients with Service or Therapy Animals.

ABSTRACT: Animals have long been used in the service of people with various disabilities and provide more than companionship. This article synthesizes current literature and recommendations regarding service and therapy animals in healthcare settings and explains how nurses can help accommodate care of service or therapy animals during outpatient care and acute inpatient admissions.

Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the presence of a certified therapy dog specially trained for working in a dental setting may facilitate dental care of anxious pediatric patients. METHODS: The Norwegian Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics approved a randomized cross-over trial with a study sample of n = 16 children aged between 6 and 12 years. The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov. Pediatric patients referred to specialist care at the Public Dental Service Competence Center of Northern Norway (TkNN) because of anxiety were invited to partake in the trial. Study participants met twice for an intraoral examination by a specialist pediatric dentist. Per random allocation, a therapy dog team was present in the clinic operatory during the clinical examination on the first or the second visit. The primary outcome was the assessment of patient compliance during the intraoral examination (yes/no). Secondary outcomes were measurements of child satisfaction and anxiety using the CFSS-DS scale (Dental subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule) completed by a parent/guardian. Supplementary outcomes were salivary cortisol level, heart rate variability, and skin conductance. RESULTS: Ten boys and six girls (mean age 8.5) were recruited. All completed both clinical visits and demonstrated full compliance while undergoing a dental examination. All study participants and guardians reported great satisfaction. The salivary cortisol level reduction during the clinical examination on the first visit decreased by 30% in the presence of the therapy dog and 20% without, while the decrease during the clinical examination on the second visit was 29% in the presence of the therapy dog and 3% without. Within the limitations of the experimental setup, the electrophysiological measurements were unreliable in the current study population. CONCLUSION: Dog-assisted therapy in a dental care setting appears to have a positive effect on children with dental anxiety or children that avoid dental care.

Photo-elicited conversations about meetings with a therapy dog as a tool for communication in dementia care: An observational study.

INTRODUCTION: It is well-known that people with dementia living in residential care facilities spend most of their time not engaged in meaningful activities. Being involved in activities can improve their quality of life. Animal-assisted therapy is an activity that can evoke engagement and joy. Another way to create engagement and promote communication between people with dementia and caregivers is to use photos. METHODS: In this observational study, the researchers combined animal-assisted therapy and photobooks in order to explore whether photos of people with dementia who were engaged in animal-assisted therapy could be used as a tool for communication in dementia care. Ten persons (4 men and 6 women; aged 72-92) with dementia were video recorded during photo-elicited conversations with a dog handler/assistant nurse. The recordings were conducted in two residential care facilities in Sweden during 2017-2018. Each participant was video recorded 2-4 times. The recordings were analysed using The Observed Emotion Rating Scale and The Observational Measurement of Engagement-OME Modified. In addition, the video recordings were interpreted from a hermeneutic perspective. FINDINGS: The findings showed that the most frequently observed effects were pleasure and general alertness, and the participants were observed to be attentive most of the time. The most common attitude during the conversations was 'somewhat positive'. The hermeneutic interpretations were grouped into four themes: Conveys a structure for the conversation with an inherent beginning and ending; An opportunity to recognise oneself and recall a sense of belonging; Awakens emotions and creates fellowship and Entails confirmation and revitalises their identity. CONCLUSION: Photobooks can be used by caregivers as a tool for meaningful and joyful communication with people with dementia, even those with severe dementia.

Therapy Dogs Help Ease Pain, Anxiety in ED Patients.

According to this study: A visit by a therapy dog team has positive effects on pain, anxiety, depression, and well-being in ED patients.

Outcomes of a controlled trial with visiting therapy dog teams on pain in adults in an emergency department.

CONTEXT: Pain is a primary reason individuals attend an Emergency Department (ED), and its management is a concern. OBJECTIVES: Change in symptoms and physiologic variables at 3 time points pre-post a ten-minute St. John Ambulance therapy dog team visit compared to no visit in ED patients who experienced pain. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Using a controlled clinical trial design, pain, anxiety, depression and well-being were measured with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (revised version) (ESAS-r) 11-point rating scales before, immediately after, and 20 minutes post- therapy dog team visit with Royal University Hospital ED patients participating in the study (n = 97). Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded at the time points. Control data was gathered twice (30 minutes apart) for comparison (n = 101). There were no group differences in age, gender or ethnicity among the control and intervention groups (respectively mean age 59.5/57.2, ethnicity 77.2% Caucasian/87.6%, female 43.6% /39.2%, male 56.4%/60.8%,). INTERVENTION: 10 minute therapy dog team visit in addition to usual care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in reported pain from pre and post therapy dog team visit and comparison with a control group. RESULTS: A two-way ANOVA was conducted to compare group effects. Significant pre- post-intervention differences were noted in pain for the intervention (mean changeint. = -0.9, SD = 2.05, p = .004, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.42, 1.32], ηp2 = 04) but not the control group. Anxiety (mean changeint. = -1.13, SD = 2.80, p = .005, 95% CI = [0.56, 1.64], ηp2 = .04), depression (mean changeint. = -0.72, SD = 1.71, p = .002, 95% CI = [0.39, 1.11], ηp2 = .047), and well-being ratings (mean changeint. = -0.87, SD = 1.84, p < .001, 95% CI = [0.49, 1.25], ηp2 = .07) similarly improved for the intervention group only. There were no pre-post intervention differences in blood pressure or heart rate for either group. Strong responders to the intervention (i.e. >50% reduction) were observed for pain (43%), anxiety (48%), depression (46%), and well-being (41%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically significant changes in pain as well as significant changes in anxiety, depression and well-being were observed in the therapy dog intervention compared to control. The findings of this novel study contribute important knowledge towards the potential value of ED therapy dogs to affect patients' experience of pain, and related measures of anxiety, depression and well-being. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This controlled clinical trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, registration number NCT04727749.

Effect of animal assistant therapy on quality of life in older adults: A meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of animal-assistant therapy on the quality of life of older adults. This research systematically searched electronic databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Central, Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and the National Thesis Centre and ULAKBIM of the Council of Higher Education) for studies published between April - June 2021. Seven studies with experimental design were used, three were quasi-experimental and four were randomly controlled studies. The total sample size in the meta-analysis was 375 (experimental group: 177 and control group: 198). The mean duration of animal-assistant therapy was 38.5 ± 12.4 min. Animal-assistant therapy had a significant effect on the quality of life of older adults (mean difference: -4.59 p: 0.03, Z:2.23). Therefore, animal assistant therapy is an effective method to improve older adults' quality of life.