Dog-Assisted Therapy in Neurorehabilitation of Children with Severe Neurological Impairment: An Explorative Study.
Adolescent
Adult
Animal Assisted Therapy
/ methods
Animals
Child
Child, Preschool
Consciousness Disorders
/ rehabilitation
Disabled Children
/ rehabilitation
Dogs
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Nervous System Diseases
/ rehabilitation
Neurological Rehabilitation
/ methods
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Retrospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
Young Adult
Journal
Neuropediatrics
ISSN: 1439-1899
Titre abrégé: Neuropediatrics
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 8101187
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 2020
08 2020
Historique:
pubmed:
17
3
2020
medline:
5
6
2021
entrez:
17
3
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) is increasingly applied in neurorehabilitation of patients with severe neurological impairments. To date, there are only anecdotal reports investigating its effects. This study was aimed to evaluate the potential of DAT in pediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation for severely neurologically impaired children and adolescents, to identify characteristics of patients receiving this therapy, characteristics of the therapy sessions, and to evaluate feasibility and extent of goal achievement. We retrospectively analyzed 850 DAT sessions performed between 2010 and 2017 at an inpatient neurorehabilitation center. The dataset included 196 children and adolescents (Md = 5.50, 0.58-20.33 years) suffering from severe neurological impairments (disorders of consciousness in 37 patients) of various etiologies. We extracted information regarding patient and session characteristics, analyzed the predefined goals with content analysis, and examined to what extent the goals were met during DAT. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Patients received an average of 4.34 therapy sessions. A total of 247 of 392 predefined goals (63%) were reached during DAT. The most frequently achieved goal was "enhancing fun" (83%), followed by "establishing contact and communication" (81%), and "relaxation" (71%). Only one critical incident regarding the dogs' safety occurred. DAT is a feasible approach and appears to facilitate emotional, social, and psychological goals in children and adolescents with severe neurological impairment.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) is increasingly applied in neurorehabilitation of patients with severe neurological impairments. To date, there are only anecdotal reports investigating its effects.
OBJECTIVES
This study was aimed to evaluate the potential of DAT in pediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation for severely neurologically impaired children and adolescents, to identify characteristics of patients receiving this therapy, characteristics of the therapy sessions, and to evaluate feasibility and extent of goal achievement.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 850 DAT sessions performed between 2010 and 2017 at an inpatient neurorehabilitation center. The dataset included 196 children and adolescents (Md = 5.50, 0.58-20.33 years) suffering from severe neurological impairments (disorders of consciousness in 37 patients) of various etiologies. We extracted information regarding patient and session characteristics, analyzed the predefined goals with content analysis, and examined to what extent the goals were met during DAT. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS
Patients received an average of 4.34 therapy sessions. A total of 247 of 392 predefined goals (63%) were reached during DAT. The most frequently achieved goal was "enhancing fun" (83%), followed by "establishing contact and communication" (81%), and "relaxation" (71%). Only one critical incident regarding the dogs' safety occurred.
CONCLUSION
DAT is a feasible approach and appears to facilitate emotional, social, and psychological goals in children and adolescents with severe neurological impairment.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32176927
doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1708545
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
267-274Informations de copyright
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
None.