Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnaiti, OH, USA.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnaiti, OH, USA.
PM R. 2024 Nov;16(11):1212-1220. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.13176. Epub 2024 Apr 18.
Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) are at risk for poor therapeutic engagement due to cognitive impairment, affect lability, pain, and fatigue. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has the potential to improve patient engagement in rehabilitation therapies; however, the feasibility of integrating AAT into the rigorous therapy schedule of inpatient clinical care or its reception by patients, families, and staff is unknown.
To examine the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating dogs into physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions with pediatric patients being treated on an inpatient rehabilitation unit for acquired brain injury.
A feasibility study of AAT within the context of a within-subjects crossover study.
Pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit.
Sixteen patients, aged 7-28 years (mean = 13.6 years, standard deviation [SD] = 5.2 years; 50% male), being treated on the inpatient rehabilitation unit following ABI.
AAT - the integration of dogs into inpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions.
Feasibility measures: enrollment rate, the proportion of AAT sessions a dog attended, adverse events, instances where therapist or handler ended session early, patient animal closeness, and utilization of dog in session. Satisfaction measures: parent satisfaction questionnaires and therapist feedback.
Feasibility was supported by high enrollment rate (88.9%) and dog attendance rate of 93%-95%; 84.3% of sessions used the dog in multiple ways and patients reported a high level of closeness with the dog in session, indicating that the dogs were integrated in meaningful ways. No adverse events were noted, therapists reported that intervention was convenient, and clinical care was not negatively impacted. A high level of satisfaction was reported by families and therapists.
Findings suggest that AAT is feasible and acceptable, and it may be a valuable tool for therapists working with patients with ABI on an inpatient rehabilitation unit.
患有后天性脑损伤（ABI）的儿童由于认知障碍、情绪不稳定、疼痛和疲劳，可能无法积极参与治疗。动物辅助疗法（AAT）有潜力改善患者对康复治疗的参与度；然而，将 AAT 融入住院临床护理的严格治疗计划中，或者患者、家属和工作人员对其的接受程度尚不清楚。
检验将狗纳入物理治疗和职业治疗课程中，以治疗在后天性脑损伤住院康复病房接受治疗的儿科患者的可行性和可接受性。
一项在自身前后测交叉研究背景下进行的 AAT 可行性研究。
儿科住院康复病房。
16 名患者，年龄 7-28 岁（平均年龄=13.6 岁，标准差 [SD]=5.2 岁；50%为男性），在 ABI 后入住住院康复病房接受治疗。
AAT - 将狗纳入住院物理治疗和职业治疗课程中。
可行性指标：入组率、狗参加治疗课程的比例、不良事件、治疗师或治疗助手提前结束课程的情况、患者与动物的亲近程度、以及课程中对狗的使用情况。满意度指标：家长满意度问卷和治疗师反馈。
高入组率（88.9%）和高狗出席率（93%-95%）支持了可行性；84.3%的课程以多种方式使用了狗，患者报告在课程中与狗非常亲近，这表明狗以有意义的方式融入了治疗过程。没有不良事件发生，治疗师报告说干预措施很方便，临床护理也没有受到负面影响。家长和治疗师的满意度都很高。
研究结果表明，AAT 是可行且可接受的，它可能是住院康复病房中治疗 ABI 患者的治疗师的一个有价值的工具。
