Gravrok Jennifer, Bendrups Dan, Howell Tiffani, Bennett Pauleen
Psychology and Public Health, LaTrobe University, Flora Hill, Australia.
Research Education and Development Team, LaTrobe University, Flora Hill, Australia.
Disabil Rehabil. 2021 Jan;43(1):49-59. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1615561. Epub 2019 May 16.
As the popularity of using dogs to assist individuals with disability grows, there is a need for increased understanding of assistance dog handlers' experiences of living and working with their dog. This is particularly pertinent to first-time handlers and during the initial placement period, where the handler and assistance dog, and the relationship forming between them, may be extremely vulnerable. The aim of this study was to better understand first-time assistance dog handlers' experience of the placement period, especially any challenges that they experience.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two youth and five adult handlers, and one parent of a young handler, recruited from three Australian assistance dog organizations. Interviews were conducted 1 month following the initial acquisition of an assistance dog. Meleis' transitions theory was used to develop a better understanding of the transition process for first-time handlers.
Inductive content analysis identified various challenges that first-time handlers experience throughout the transition period. These included: the initial response to living with the assistance dog; renegotiating relationships and social interactions; and, adjusting expectations regarding the assistance dog's behavior and capabilities.
First-time handler experiences indicate a need for assistance dog organizations to develop initiatives to further assist their handlers through a smooth transition into assistance dog ownership. Implications for rehabilitation Integrating an assistance dog into a first-time handler's life is a long process full of challenges. Provider organizations and other support members markedly impact the ease of transitioning an assistance dog into a handler's life. Organizations should be aware of the role they have and employ strategies to create as smooth a transition as possible. Support from other support members is crucial to ease the challenges experienced.
随着利用犬只协助残疾人的情况日益普遍，有必要加深对辅助犬主人与犬只共同生活和工作经历的了解。这对于初次养狗的主人以及在初次安置期间尤为重要，在此期间，主人与辅助犬及其之间形成的关系可能极为脆弱。本研究的目的是更好地了解初次养狗的主人在安置期间的经历，尤其是他们所面临的任何挑战。
从三个澳大利亚辅助犬组织招募了两名青年和五名成年主人以及一名青年主人的家长，进行了半结构化访谈。访谈在初次获得辅助犬1个月后进行。运用梅莱伊斯的过渡理论，以更好地理解初次养狗的主人的过渡过程。
归纳性内容分析确定了初次养狗的主人在整个过渡期间所面临的各种挑战。这些挑战包括：对与辅助犬共同生活的最初反应；重新协商人际关系和社交互动；以及调整对辅助犬行为和能力的期望。
初次养狗的主人的经历表明，辅助犬组织需要制定举措，以进一步协助主人顺利过渡到拥有辅助犬的生活。对康复的启示将辅助犬融入初次养狗的主人的生活是一个漫长且充满挑战的过程。提供方组织和其他支持人员对辅助犬顺利融入主人生活的难易程度有显著影响。组织应意识到自己的作用，并采用策略尽可能实现平稳过渡。来自其他支持人员的支持对于缓解所面临的挑战至关重要。
