Animal-assisted activity and pain sensation in hospitalized children and adolescents

• Main Authors: Tatiane Ichitani, Maria Claudia Cunha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira para o Estudo da Dor
• Series: Revista Dor
• Subjects: adolescent; animal-assisted therapy; hospitalization; hospitalized children; pain
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1806-00132016000400270&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The interest on Animal-Assisted Activity, Education and Therapy is growing in Brazil. Only in the last decade, Brazilian investigators have started scientific studies aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Activity, Education and Therapy as from international literature references. The methodological option of developing this project in hospital environment comes to meet the increasing interest of such institutions in introducing animals during the hospitalization period of patients, especially children. The presence of animals seems to produce significant socioemotional benefits as adjuvant to clinical management of hospitalized patients. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of Animal-Assisted Activity on pain sensation of hospitalized children and adolescents. METHODS: This is an intervention, quantitative and qualitative research. Participated in the study 17 patients aged as from 7 years, hospitalized in the Hospital Infantil Sabará, with pain complaints. Participant co-therapist dogs were Bruce (large size) and Sheep (small size). Pain numerical scale was applied before and after Animal-Assisted Activity, Education and Therapy. RESULTS: There are evidences, in the studied population, that this activity was effective to decrease patients' self-referred pain, in addition to improving emotional aspects of hospitalization, confirming literature data on the subject. CONCLUSION: There has been significant pain decrease after intervention with dogs, confirming some international studies carried out on the subject.