Recreation therapy scholarship: A necessary contribution to the future of recreation therapy

Austin, David R.; McCormick, Ctrs Bryan P.

doi:10.5055/ajrt.2011.0008

Cited by 8 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…To address many of the non-methodological limitations of the AAI field in oncology, AAI in oncology and pet therapies generally require a more rigorous treatment of the theoretical aspects of the phenomenon and the concomitant explanations of results this can provide. Ideally, as a few researchers have, 58,89 the norm would be starting from the highest theoretical level and then designing an experiment to evaluate one's predictions.…”

Section: Discussion Of Theoretical Limitations and Suggestionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Buettner and colleagues thus designed the study with the aim of reducing cognitive stress loads while patients are in the cancer treatment waiting room. 89 While this theory somewhat resembles that of social support networks discussed previously, it presents a clearer pathway from overarching concept through to biochemical mechanism of action under its framework. Rather than existing as a generalized node in a fluid support network, the therapy animal directly alters the patient's stress response and the concomitant physiological correlates (like cortisol or heart rate) during a typical intervention.…”

Section: Other Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Only a live therapy animal has all of the relevant characteristics to take on this role. Buettner et al 89 make a case for the cognitive activation theory of stress as a way to understand AAI's benefits. This conception is based on general arousal and activation theory and focuses on specific definitions of stress in order to characterize and evaluate the effectiveness of reactions to stress.…”

Section: Other Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This conception is based on general arousal and activation theory and focuses on specific definitions of stress in order to characterize and evaluate the effectiveness of reactions to stress. 89,90 Interestingly, Ursin et al 90 notes that, "an essential element of cognitive activation theory of stress [is] that only when coping is defined as positive outcome expectancy does the concept predict relations to health and disease." For AAI, the cognitive activation theory of stress forms a psychobiological foundation.…”

Section: Other Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For AAI, the cognitive activation theory of stress forms a psychobiological foundation. 89 Essentially, AAI is only useful to a patient under this framework in so much as AAI helps him to mediate his response to the stresses of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Buettner and colleagues thus designed the study with the aim of reducing cognitive stress loads while patients are in the cancer treatment waiting room.…”

Section: Other Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Literature Review of Animal Assisted Interventions in Oncology (Part II):Theoretical Mechanisms and Frameworks

Holder

Gruen

Roberts

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are a unique class of complementary medical treatments that can improve a patient’s quality of life, both physically and psychologically. Part I of this two-paper systematic literature review series focused on the study methods and quantitative results of researchers in this field. We continue this in-depth review here in Part II by discussing the common theories associated with AAI in the context of cancer. Of all the factors at work in human-animal interactions, researchers explicitly cite compatible animal personality, physical touch, physical movement, distraction/entertainment, and increased human interaction as the mechanisms responsible for the positive clinical outcomes observed in AAI. In various combinations, these mechanisms group under broader theoretical frameworks that attempt to fully explain the AAI context as it relates to cancer care. The social support hypothesis and the conception of a human-animal bond are the most referenced overarching frameworks. The cognitive activation theory of stress, the science of unitary human beings, and the self-object hypothesis are also referenced. We briefly consider other relevant theories commonly noted in the human-animal interactions literature that have the potential to clarify aspects of cancer-related AAI. We also discuss the neurobiological transduction mechanisms needed to connect theoretical frameworks and their mechanisms directly to the observed clinical outcomes. To advance the field, researchers should consider overarching theories with testable hypotheses when designing studies, and use consistent terminology when reporting results. This review lays a foundation for progress towards a unified theoretical framework and for effective treatment of the whole cancer patient.

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Section: Discussion Of Theoretical Limitations and Suggestionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Other Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Other Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%