Development of an animal-assisted activity program on a pediatric behavioral health unit

Abstract

Animal-assisted activities (AAA), a form of animal-assisted interaction, have the potential to improve positive coping for youth with significant psychiatric symptoms admitted to acute behavioral health units. However, little is known regarding the appropriateness of an AAA program in short-term mental health hospital settings. The goal of this investigation is to describe and report on the feasibility and acceptability of embedding a canine-AAA program within the therapeutic programming of a pediatric behavioral health unit. Both patient participants and unit staff completed quantitative and qualitative measures. Outcomes yielded preliminary data suggesting AAA was feasible and acceptable to patients and unit staff. Initial efficacy outcomes demonstrated decreases in subjective distress. Qualitative data provided areas for further refinement of the AAA program.

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

“…Healthcare settings were mostly hospitals or medical centres, seven of which involved children’s hospitals or paediatric wards (one of which was a psychiatric ward for adolescents) [ 31 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 41 , 43 , 46 ]. Two studies specify community care/hospice [ 40 , 42 ].…”

“…Apart from the two latter studies, all studies at least implied assessment of nurses and physicians (thirteen explicitly mentioned this). Some studies also considered allied and ancillary healthcare staff [ 30 – 41 , 43 , 44 ]. In total, ~ 1,000 members of healthcare staff participated across the twenty studies.…”

“…Two studies included communal animals (psychiatric ward with cats and community care for mentally ill with dog) [ 27 , 42 ]. The remaining seven studies concerned responses to patient AAA [ 39 – 41 , 43 – 46 ]. All studies indicate positive perception or experience of AAA.…”

The supporting role of dogs in the inpatient setting: a systematic review of the therapeutic effects of animal-assisted therapy with dogs for children and adolescents in an inpatient setting

“…The characteristics of the studies are summarised in Table 2. Amongst them, two originated from Italy [25; 30], whilst three hailed from the United States of America [49][50][51]. In all studies, the intervention under investigation took place in a full inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric facility and focussed on the therapeutic effects on the patients.…”

A lóasszisztált tevékenység szociális viselkedésre, koherenciaérzetre és agresszivitásra gyakorolt hatásának vizsgálata szakiskolai képzésben részt vevő serdülők körében = Examination of the Effects of Horse-Assisted Activities on Social Behaviour, Sense of Coherence and Aggression Among Adolescents in Vocational Training

“…Egy 2019-es vizsgálat kutyákat alkalmazott kórházi körülmények között, 8-17 éves, érzelmi és mentális problémákkal küzdő fiatalok körében (Fodstad et al, 2019) Szintén kamaszokat, illetve gyerekeket is magukba foglaltak azok a terápiás és intervenciós programok, melyek 6, 8 és 12 hétig tartottak, és lovas és kutyás foglalkozásokat tartalmaztak (Shen et al, 2018). A kutatók megállapították, hogy a mentális egészség rendellenességeitől szenvedő résztvevőknél a testi érintkezés az AAI hatékonyságának egyik legfontosabb összetevője.…”