Patient Education Tools: Using Pets to Empower Patients’ Self-care—A Pilot Study

Abstract

Six patient education tools were designed to guide patients’ self-care by activating pets to positively impact social determinants of health. Distributed to both pet owners and primary health-care providers, each tool addressed a specific area of health and outlined a pet-related activity. Surveys questioned how participants used the tools and their impact on health and health care. Pet owners shared the tools with family and friends. Primary health-care providers used the tools to target specific health concerns. Primary health-care providers reported that working with the tools improved rapport with their patients.

Pet ownership issues encountered by geriatric professionals: Preliminary findings from an interdisciplinary sample

“…10.3389/fpsyg.2022.920559 The promotion of healthy aging also relies on healthcare and social service professionals. Though there is not a great deal of existing literature on pet issues encountered by these professionals, there is evidence that addressing the topic of pet ownership can promote honest and productive communication with patients and clients (Hodgson et al, 2017(Hodgson et al, , 2020. These discussions can also uncover risks and benefits to patients' health.…”

“…Though professionals may be pet owners, they likely do not share a close reciprocated bond with clients' pets. Further, pets can directly impact professionals (Grasmo et al, 2021) and the relationship with clients (Hodgson et al, 2017(Hodgson et al, , 2020. Identifying the challenges of pet ownership will not only support healthy aging, doing so may improve practitioners' effectiveness and their own wellbeing.…”

“…These models will provide a foundation for future research and provide immediate practical applications by creating evidence-based recommendations for geriatric professionals. These recommendations will build upon the evidence that conversations about pets can be used to build rapport with clients (Hodgson et al, 2017(Hodgson et al, , 2020 and motivate older adults in their own health behaviors (e.g., Gan et al, 2019;Janevic et al, 2019). Comprehensive depictions of the impact of pet ownership will enable professionals to successfully navigate the drawbacks and build upon the benefits.…”

Las mascotas en el genograma familiar

“…Conversaciones sobre las mascotas de los clientes pueden mejorar la comunicación, fortalecer la alianza terapéutica y revelar información clínica significativa (Hodgson, Darling, Freeman, & Monavvari, 2017). Si bien la solicitud de incorporación de los animales de compañía en un diagrama familiar genera entusiasmo en los custodios (Hodgson, Darling, Monavvari, & Freeman, 2018), la misma es bastante reciente. En sus comienzos, el trazado de la estructura familiar del genograma se limitaba a "la construcción de figuras que representan personas y líneas que describen sus relaciones" biológicas o legales (McGoldrick & Gerson, 1985, p.25).…”