Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy

Throughout history, pets have played an important role in people's lives (Edney, 1992).

Pets offer companionship, unconditional regard, topics for conversations, sensory stimulation and opportunities for physical activity (Beck, 1985; Gustafson and Dornedon, Fraser, 1989; Martin, 1993). Relaxation and decreased anxiety have also been attributed to the presence of pets (Ainsworth, 1989; Baun, Oetting, and Bergstrom, 1991)

There are several documented benefits of human-animal interactions. In 1984 Muschel examined the effects of animal contact on a group of patients with terminal cancer. Fifteen patients were involved in a 10-week study of 90 minute weekly sessions with visiting dogs. A questionnaire, thematic apperception tests, description of pictures and observation were used to measure effects. Results showed that contact with the visiting dogs decreased anxiety and despair in individuals in the study.

The effects of pet ownership on one year survival of patients from a coronary care center were investigated by Friedman, Katcher, Lynch, and Thomas in 1980. A total of 58 percent of the subjects had one or more pets. Pets were identified as providing attention and pleasurable activity to participants in this study. One year following discharge from the coronary care unit, 84 percent of participants were alive. Of those participants who died, only six percent were pet owners.

In 1983, Friedman, Katcher, Thomas, Lynch, and Messent examined the presence of "friendly dogs" on blood pressure of children during periods of resting and reading. The outcome of this study was reduction of anxiety and decreased blood pressure and heart rate in those children exposed to "friendly dogs."

Chinner and Dalziel (1991) examined the attitudinal and behavioral changes of patients with terminal illness and their caregivers upon introduction of a miniature poodle to a resident hospice. Three phases including pretest, posttest and follow-up were investigated with use of interviews and observations. The researchers reported that the poodle facilitated interactions between patients and staff; eased patient visitor relations; and increased staff and patient morale on a situational basis.

The effects of weekly domestic animal visitation to persons in adult homes were examined by Francis (1991) with regards to quality of life indicators including: health self-concept, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, social competence, social interest, personal neatness, psychosocial functional and mental function.

The Share-a-Pet Program of the local SPCA provided puppies for three-hour visits one time per week. A pretest-posttest control group design was used including structured interview, non-participant observation, and seven paper and pencil instruments yielding data on the identified variables.

Seven of the nine quality of life indicators showed statistically significant improvement from pretest to posttest. Those variables, which did not change, included personal neatness and health self-concept.

As evidenced by these investigations, there is much support for the benefits of the human-animal bond. In recent years, animals, especially dogs, have been used as a means of therapy to assist people in coping with illnesses and disabilities.

Throughout the country, recreation therapy professionals have initiated pet-facilitated therapy programs in hospitals and other health care settings with much success. Local agencies with pet-facilitated therapy programs include: Wake Medical Center, University of North Carolina--Memorial Hospital, Greenery Rehabilitation Center, and Hillhaven Nursing Home. Programs which have received national attention include those at the Denver Children's Hospital and the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

Pet facilitated therapy (PFT) is defined as a goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process.

PFT is directed and or delivered by a health/human service professional with specialized expertise, and within the scope of his/her profession. Pet-facilitated therapy is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning in a variety of settings, in a group or individual in nature.

This process is documented and evaluated (Delta Society, 1992). Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) provide opportunities for motivational, educational, recreational, and/or therapeutic benefits to enhance quality of life. AAAs are delivered in a variety of environments by a specially trained professional, para-professional and or volunteer, in association with animals that meet specific criteria (Delta Society, 1992). Both pet-facilitated therapy and animal assisted activities are appropriate for use in oncology settings.

References

Ainsworth, H. (1989). Pets in the ward. Nursing Times, 85(39), 54-56.

Baun, M. M., Oetting, K., Bergstrom, N. (1991). Health benefits of companion animals in relation to the physiologic indices of relaxation. Holistic Nursing Practice, 5(2), 16-23.

Beck, A.M. (1985). The therapeutic use of animals, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 15(2), 365-373.

Chinner, T.L., and Dalziel, F.R. (1991). An exploratory study on the viability and efficacy of a pet-facilitated therapy project within a hospice, Journal of Palliative Care, 7(4), 13-20.

Francis, G.M. (1991). "Here come the puppies": The power of the human-animal bond. Holistic Nursing Practice, 5(2), 38-41.

Fraser, Cira (1989). Patient's advocate: Sometimes the best therapy has four legs, RN, 52(6), 21-22.

Friedman, E., Katcher, A.H., Thomas, S.A., Lynch, J.J., and Messent, P.R. (1983). Social interaction and blood pressure: Influence of animal companions. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 171(8), 461-464.

Friedman, E., Katcher, A.H., Lynch, J.J., and Thomas, S.A. (1980). Animal Companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit, Public Health Reports, 95(4), 307-312.

Gustafson, G.R., and Dornedon, L.G. (1988). Animal-assisted therapy: Its value in therapeutic recreation programming, Leisure Interest Quarterly, 4-5.

Kale, Marla (1992). Kids and animals, InterActions, 10(3), 17-21.

Martin, S. (1993). Ask the Experts, Critical Care Nurse, 13(2), 74.

McKee, E. (1989). Pets in the ward: Till death do us part, Nursing Times, 27(85), 57-58.

Muschel, I.J. (1984). Pet therapy with terminal cancer patients. Social Casework, 65(8), 451-458.