Implementation feasibility of Animal Assisted Therapy in a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Purpose: Animal assisted therapies are an innovative strategy within health care humanisation initiatives, and they could play a role in the reduction of pain or anxiety. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing animal assisted therapy in a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Methods: A prospective, non-randomized study of Animal Assisted Therapy was designed in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre of Madrid, from January 2019 to December 2019. The study sample included patients who had been admitted to the unit and were over three years old. Satisfaction surveys were collected from the patients, family and health personnel involved. Physiological variables and the level of pain, (Visual Analogue Scale or Wong Baker scale) fear (Child Medical Fear Scale), and anxiety (modified Yale Anxiety Preoperatory Scale), were evaluated before and after each session. Any existence of adverse events was recorded. Results: A total of 74 Therapy sessions were performed on 61 patients. All sessions were completed without any adverse effects. 164 surveys were collected, providing an overall project rating of 9.69 out of a possible 10. The survey comments were found to be positive in most cases. No differences were found in the physiological variables measured before and after each session. There was a statistically significant decrease (p <0.01) in pain, fear, and anxiety levels. Conclusions: The implementation of an animal-assisted therapy project in a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit is feasible, safe and has a high degree of acceptance among both participants and healthcare staff. It could therefore be considered as an alternative non-pharmacological therapy for the reduction of pain, fear, or anxiety.