Author:
Mittly Veronika,Fáy Veronika,Dankovics Natália,Pál Vanda,Purebl György
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Any illness places a significant burden on patients, including deterioration in quality of life. Animal assisted therapy may be helpful in the rehabilitation process and in the treatment of patients to alleviate this phenomenon.
Methods
A randomized, controlled research was conducted in 2019 and 2020 in a rehabilitation center in Budapest. In our study, the control and experimental groups received the same therapy, but the rehabilitation treatment of the intervention group was complemented by dog therapy. Patients were evaluated by means of the short form Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale, Visual Analog Scale for pain and the WHO-5 Well-being Index. For statistical analysis paired T-test and ANCOVA was performed.
Results
58 participants in both groups took part in the research. Results confirm that both groups showed statistically significant improvement in all outcome measures, except for depression symptoms in dog therapy group. Quality of life of the participants improved significantly, their pain and anxiety levels were significantly reduced, they felt significantly less burdened by the disease in their daily lives. Therapeutic-dog sessions had a large effect on patients’ quality of life and anxiety.
Conclusions
There is a strong case for animal assisted therapy as a complementary therapy in the rehabilitation program, and it is proposed that consideration should be given to the application of this method on a larger scale within health care. The study was retrospectively registered at ISRCTN Registry (registration number: ISRCTN10208787) on 15/03/2022.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference40 articles.
1. Harper CM, Dong Y, Thornhill TS, Wright J, Ready J, Bric GW, et al. Can Therapy Dogs improve Pain and satisfaction after total joint arthroplasty? A Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2014;473:372–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-014-3931-0.
2. Fine AH. Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy Foundations and Guidelines for Animal-Assisted Interventions, 4th edition, San Diego: Academic Press; 2015.
3. Nimer J, Lundahl B, Meta-Analysis. Anthrozoos. 2007;20:225–38. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279307X224773.
4. Halm MA. The Healing Power of the human-animal connection. Am J Crit Care. 2018;17:373–6.
5. Mangalavite AM. Animal-assisted therapy: benefits and implications for professionals in the field of Rehabilitation. Res Papers 2014;547.