Animal-Assisted Therapy in palliative care: a scoping review.

Front Psychol

Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad a Distancia de Madrid (UDIMA), Madrid, Spain.

Published: December 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is recognized for its benefits in palliative care, helping to improve the quality of life for terminally ill patients by addressing their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
  • The review synthesizes various studies on AAT, highlighting its effectiveness in reducing pain, anxiety, and depression, while enhancing social interactions and emotional support among patients.
  • The conclusion suggests that AAT can significantly enhance patient well-being, but future research is needed to standardize methods and better understand how AAT can be effectively integrated into palliative care programs.

Article Abstract

Background: Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is increasingly recognized as beneficial in palliative care, aiming to enhance the well-being of terminally ill patients. Palliative care focuses on holistic support for physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. AAT uses animal interactions to alleviate symptoms such as pain, anxiety, and depression, promoting social engagement and emotional comfort. This review assesses AAT's effectiveness in enhancing the quality of life for palliative care recipients.

Aim: Synthesizing literature on AAT in palliative care, the review examines its impact on physical symptoms, emotional well-being, social interactions, and overall comfort. By analyzing diverse studies, it aims to elucidate AAT's therapeutic potential and identify research gaps.

Design: Scoping review.

Data Sources: Searches in PubMed, ProQuest, Psychology Database, and Scopus identified relevant studies evaluating AAT interventions in palliative care. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, participant demographics, AAT interventions, and reported outcomes.

Results: Studies consistently report positive outcomes of AAT in palliative care, including reduced pain, anxiety, depression, and improved mood and well-being. AAT also enhances social interactions and emotional support, albeit with variations in study designs.

Conclusion: AAT holds promise for improving quality of life in palliative care by addressing physical, emotional, and social needs. Future research should standardize methodologies, explore mechanisms of action, and optimize AAT integration into comprehensive palliative care strategies.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11661565PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1478264DOI Listing

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