Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Hospitalized Children and Teenagers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Feng, Yongshen; Lin, Yeqing; Jiang, Xiaohan; Zhang, Lifeng

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2021.01.020

Cited by 38 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Our revision confirms that AAIs are a suitable intervention in pediatrics’ wards. Compared to the previous review of Feng et al (2021) , here we analyzed different types of AAIs, including also activities, in addition to dog-assisted therapies. Data overall suggest that, when testing AAI efficacy, physiological indicators are more variable and less reliable than psychological and emotional measures ( Khan and Farrag, 2000 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Children’s hospitals are an elective setting where AAIs could be successfully employed, as indicated by an increasing number of studies ( Kaminski et al, 2002 ; Barker et al, 2015 ; Abrahamson et al, 2016 ; Uglow, 2019 ). Although AAI effectiveness has been examined by previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses ( Urbanski and Lazenby, 2012 ; Chur-Hansen et al, 2014 ; Gilmer et al, 2016 ; Lundqvist et al, 2017 ; Waite et al, 2018 ; Tripodi et al, 2019 ; Feng et al, 2021 ), the focus of these studies was not always on the hospital setting or, alternatively, it was limited to a specific medical condition (such as pediatric oncology). Furthermore, they were limited to randomized controlled studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improving the Emotional Distress and the Experience of Hospitalization in Children and Adolescent Patients Through Animal Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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IntroductionAnimal Assisted Interventions (AAIs) are increasingly common in pediatric care settings as a means to promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of hospitalized children and adolescents.ObjectivesThe aim of this work was to review published studies implementing AAIs in hospital settings and to assess the effects of AAIs on the biobehavioral response to stress and pain, social behavior, quality of life and level of satisfaction with hospitalization in children and adolescents. Stress and burden, quality of life, mood and level of satisfaction with hospitalization in parents/caregivers as well as stress and burden, perception of the work environment and job satisfaction in hospital staff were also reviewed.MethodsAll published studies reporting quantitative assessments were systematically searched using PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest and Web of Science databases in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The aim was to identify studies examining the effects of AAIs on behavioral, psychological and physiological responses to stress in children and adolescents (0–18 years) formally admitted to a hospital for a stay, as well as in those undergoing a visit for treatments or medical examinations.ResultsOf the 350 studies screened, 21 were eligible for inclusion. Most of them focused on stress, pain, and anxiety reduction in pediatric patients, and used both physiological parameters and behavioral and psychological observations/scales. All studies employed dogs. Results show the potential of AAIs to reduce anxiety and behavioral distress in pediatric patients while acting on physiological measures associated with arousal.ConclusionAlthough further, more rigorous studies are still needed, the findings of this review may have implications for clinical practices suggesting appropriate planning of AAIs by pediatric healthcare professionals.Systematic Review Registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=178993], identifier [CRD42020178993].

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the Emotional Distress and the Experience of Hospitalization in Children and Adolescent Patients Through Animal Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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“…Psychometric anxiety assessment has been predominantly assessed using STAI-CH (State-Trait anxiety inventory for children) in different healthcare settings (Feng et al, 2021;Zhang et al, 2021).…”

Section: Secondary Outcomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT

Gussgard

Carlstedt

Meirik

2022

Clinical & Exp Dental Res

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Objective: To evaluate whether the presence of a certified therapy dog specially trained for working in a dental setting may facilitate dental care of anxious pediatric patients. Methods: The Norwegian Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics approved a randomized cross-over trial with a study sample of n = 16 children aged between 6 and 12 years. The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov. Pediatric patients referred to specialist care at the Public Dental Service Competence Center of Northern Norway (TkNN) because of anxiety were invited to partake in the trial. Study participants met twice for an intraoral examination by a specialist pediatric dentist. Per random allocation, a therapy dog team was present in the clinic operatory during the clinical examination on the first or the second visit. The primary outcome was the assessment of patient compliance during the intraoral examination (yes/no). Secondary outcomes were measurements of child satisfaction and anxiety using the CFSS-DS scale (Dental subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule) completed by a parent/guardian. Supplementary outcomes were salivary cortisol level, heart rate variability, and skin conductance.Results: Ten boys and six girls (mean age 8.5) were recruited. All completed both clinical visits and demonstrated full compliance while undergoing a dental examination.All study participants and guardians reported great satisfaction. The salivary cortisol level reduction during the clinical examination on the first visit decreased by 30% in the presence of the therapy dog and 20% without, while the decrease during the clinical examination on the second visit was 29% in the presence of the therapy dog and 3% without. Within the limitations of the experimental setup, the electrophysiological measurements were unreliable in the current study population.Conclusion: Dog-assisted therapy in a dental care setting appears to have a positive effect on children with dental anxiety or children that avoid dental care.

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“…AAI is an emerging area in the field of psychosocial intervention. Several meta-analyses [ 21 , 22 , 23 ] and review studies [ 24 , 25 ] have demonstrated the positive effects of AAIs in the educational and healthcare contexts. AAIs have been used in the treatment of children and adolescents with learning disabilities, autism, people with serious illnesses (HIV virus, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and in palliative care), adolescents and adults with psychiatric problems, people with disabilities, people with aphasia or other language problems, elderly people with depressive symptoms or with Alzheimer’s disease, and so on.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With regard to this human–animal bond, there is evidence that interacting with animals reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression [ 32 ], alleviates pain [ 33 ] and improves physiological markers of well-being and response to stress [ 21 ]. Interaction with animals has been associated with a reduction in systolic blood pressure and an increase in diastolic blood pressure [ 21 ], a reduction in blood pressure [ 34 ], an increase in oxytocin secretion [ 35 ] and reductions in levels of cortisol [ 36 ], epinephrine and norepinephrine, and cardiopulmonary pressure [ 37 ]. Human–animal interactions have also proved useful in the hospital setting where they have been associated with reduced stress levels in hospitalized patients and in those undergoing surgery [ 38 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Social-Emotional Learning Program for Suicide Prevention through Animal-Assisted Intervention

Muela

Balluerka

Sansinenea

et al. 2021

Animals

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The aim of the study was to carry out a pilot implementation and evaluation of the OverCome-AAI program, a pioneering program for the prevention of suicidal behavior through animal-assisted interventions for young people with high risk factors for suicidal behavior. The study sample consisted of 30 adolescents (11 boys and 19 girls) aged between 14 and 17 years (Mean age = 15.50, SD = 1.60) from the Basque Country (Northern Spain). After the intervention, subjects presented reductions in suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and non-suicidal self-harm, as well as a greater predisposition to seek help. A reduction in the intensity of mental pain was also found, although no differences were observed in indicators of hopelessness and depression. The preliminary results obtained in this pilot study suggest that the OverCome-AAI program may be effective in reducing suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-harm in young people in residential care who present high risk factors for suicide.

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Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Hospitalized Children and Teenagers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cited by 38 publications

References 51 publications

Improving the Emotional Distress and the Experience of Hospitalization in Children and Adolescent Patients Through Animal Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Review

Improving the Emotional Distress and the Experience of Hospitalization in Children and Adolescent Patients Through Animal Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Review

Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT

A Social-Emotional Learning Program for Suicide Prevention through Animal-Assisted Intervention

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