Animal-Assisted Interventions in Children's Hospitals: A Critical Review of the Literature

Abstract

There is a perception in the scientific and general communities that hospitalized children benefit from visits by animals. Animal-assisted interventions (AAI), including animal-assisted therapy and animal-assisted activities, usually involving dogs, are thus employed in pediatric hospitals. However, the actual prevalence of AAI in children's hospitals has been poorly documented in the literature. Furthermore, the evidence base for claims that children in hospital benefit from AAI is limited. There are nine existing research studies in the area, all with methodological challenges that make conclusive statements in either direction about the efficacy of AAI difficult. In this critical review we consider methodological considerations pertinent to evaluations of AAI interventions for hospitalized children. These include: definitions and terminology; cultural attitudes; children's receptivity to animals, including phobia, type of illness and health status of the child, familiar as opposed to unknown animals, and age of the child; animal welfare; zoonoses and allergies; and hospital staff attitudes toward AAI. We highlight the many difficulties involved in conducting research on AAI in pediatric settings. Given the limited information around AAI for hospitalized children, including the risks and benefits and the limitations of existing studies, future research is required. This should take into account the methodological considerations discussed in this review, so that our knowledge base can be enhanced and if and where appropriate, such interventions be implemented and rigorously evaluated.

Animal-Assisted Interventions for Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…It also poses specific challenges to the evaluation and comparison of such studies. More comprehensive discussions of the (methodological) difficulties that are frequently involved in conducting research on animal-assisted interventions can be found in other reviews (e.g., Johnson, Odendaal, & Meadows, 2002;Stern & Chur-Hansen, 2013;Chur-Hansen, McArthur, Winefield, Hanieh, & Hazel, 2014). In the following sections, only a few general issues and practical considerations regarding human-animal interactions will be discussed that should be taken into account when deciding on the application of or conducting research involving animal-assisted interventions.…”

Interação Lúdica Na Atividade Assistida Por Cães Em Pediatria

“…Entretanto, como referido em estudo de revisão sobre a temática (2) , é importante destacar que são escassas as pesquisas utilizando IAA.…”

“…Estudos recentes têm reconhecido os potenciais benefícios para a saúde e o bem-estar de crianças hospitalizadas, decorrentes de atividades como visita de animais, favorecendo um ambiente com menos tensão, estreitando relações interpessoais entre crianças, familiares e equipe, melhorada auto-estima, distração, prazer e incremento nas habilidades sociais (1)(2)(3)(4) . Apesar da literatura limitada sobre a evidência, especificamente no Brasil, essas intervenções vêm sendo incorporadas, em diversos contextos de saúde, tais como:…”

Increasing the Effectiveness of Palliative Care through Integrative Modalities

“…Optimally, a consistent AAI treatment protocol would be helpful for the purposes of research to examine what, in these sessions, may be most beneficial and/or detrimental for people and for therapy animals (Chur-Hansen et al, 2014). Optimally, a consistent AAI treatment protocol would be helpful for the purposes of research to examine what, in these sessions, may be most beneficial and/or detrimental for people and for therapy animals (Chur-Hansen et al, 2014).…”