Effects of animal-assisted activity on self-reported feelings of pain in hospitalized children and adolescents

Abstract

Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is an approach recently introduced into the hospital environment to improve the quality of hospitalization and provide important benefits for patients with chronic diseases and long-term hospitalizations. This work aims to verify the effects of animal-assisted activity (AAA) on the expression and quality of self-reported pain in hospitalized children and adolescents, while considering the subjects' subjectivity. The participants were 17 hospitalized children/adolescents of both genders, aged 7 years and older, who complained of pain. Two therapy dogs were selected for the intervention according to the criteria of international protocols. The participants were asked an open question ("How would you describe your pain?"). After the question, an AAA session, which lasted between 5 and 10 min, was held with random activities spontaneously chosen by the subject. The open question was asked again at the end of the session, without the presence of the dog. Positive effects were observed in this population with regard to a decrease in self-reported pain. These results suggest that there is a possible symbolic elaboration of pain by the subject, in which the dog might represent acceptance and affection at a moment of great emotional suffering.

Animal-Assisted Interventions in the Classroom—A Systematic Review

“…Many studies have since linked AAI with positive health outcomes, for example in pain management, in the treatment of depression, and in wider neurological rehabilitation studies (for an overview, see Munoz Lasa et al 2015) [ 6 ]. For example, children have reported a reduction in pain in the presence of an animal, and positive effects have been observed in children and adolescents hospitalised for acute mental disorders, reducing emotional and behavioural symptoms and increasing global competence and psychological functioning [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Elderly patients also benefit from animal interactions to combat depressive symptoms, and positive effects such as improving and enhancing socialization among older adults with dementia in care homes are reported, resulting in fewer incidents requiring staff intervention [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Ruh Sağlığını Koruma ve İyileştirmede Hayvan Destekli Uygulamaların Kullanımı

“…Hayvan Destekli Uygulamalar (HDU) günümüzde çeşitli gruplarda, sağlığı koruma ve geliştirmek amacıyla uygulanan tedavilere destek ek bir müdahale seçeneği ve tedaviye motivasyon artışı sağlayan bir yöntemdir (İchitani & Cunha 2016). Dünya'da HDU'nun kullanımı yaygın olmakla birlikte, ülkemizde bu konuda yapılmış uygulamalar sınırlıdır.…”

“…Hayvan Destekli Uygulamaların Sağladığı Yararlar HDU'nun bireyde psikolojik, duygusal, sosyal ve fiziksel birçok yarar sağladığı çalışmalarda vurgulanmaktadır. HDU'ya ilişkin yapılan çalışmalarda, hayvanların varlığının, birey duygu ifadesini, iletişimi ve kendine bakımı geliştirdiği (Elmacı & Cevizci 2015), immun sistemi güçlendirdiği (Charnetski et al 2004) HDU'nun psikiyatri, pediatri, geriatri gibi psikiyatrik rehabilitasyonun ve hemşirelik bakımının ön planda olduğu birçok alanda özellikle de yaşlılar, engelliler (Elmacı & Cevizci 2015), çocuklar (O'haire et al 2014Cevizci et al 2015;İchitani & Cunha 2016;McCullough et al 2017) gibi incinebilir grupların tedavi ve rehabilitasyonunda kullanımına sık rastlanmaktadır.…”

Animal-Assisted Therapy in the Residential Treatment of Dual Pathology

“…Nevertheless, presenting AAT as a therapy in itself is a mistake. AAT features among treatment alternatives, always as a complement to prototypical psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions [13]. It is not conceived as a sole treatment but as a complementary option that facilitates the therapist's work [14].…”