Lab Instructor and Part-Time Faculty, Nursing, St Lawrence College, Cornwall, Ontario ON, Canada.
Nurs Stand. 2021 Jan 13;36(1):28-33. doi: 10.7748/ns.2020.e11625. Epub 2020 Dec 21.
Animal-assisted therapy involves the use of highly trained animals, such as dogs and cats, in conjunction with conventional treatments to address the physical and emotional needs of patients. This article presents a literature review of the health benefits and challenges associated with the use of animal-assisted therapy in the care of older patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Eleven original research articles were included and three themes were identified: physiological outcomes, psychological outcomes, and challenges associated with using animal-assisted therapy in patient care. The literature review aims to enhance nurses' knowledge of the health benefits of animal-assisted therapy as an adjunct to traditional treatments. It found that animal-assisted therapy can improve sleep, reduce depression and enhance mood in older patients. Challenges were identified in relation to ensuring infection prevention and control and in sustaining the implementation and benefits of interventions. Further research is necessary to explore the sustainability and long-term benefits of animal-assisted therapy in healthcare settings.
动物辅助疗法是指使用经过高度训练的动物，如狗和猫，与传统治疗相结合，以满足患者的身体和情感需求。本文对在医院和长期护理机构中使用动物辅助疗法来照顾老年患者的健康益处和挑战进行了文献回顾。共纳入 11 篇原始研究文章，确定了三个主题：生理结果、心理结果以及在患者护理中使用动物辅助疗法相关的挑战。该文献综述旨在增强护士对动物辅助疗法作为传统治疗辅助手段的健康益处的认识。研究发现，动物辅助疗法可以改善老年患者的睡眠、减轻抑郁和改善情绪。还确定了与感染预防和控制以及维持干预措施的实施和益处相关的挑战。需要进一步研究来探索动物辅助疗法在医疗保健环境中的可持续性和长期益处。
