Implementing a hospital-based animal therapy program for children with cancer: a descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Animal-Assisted Therapy
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Background:

• Children with cancer face significant biopsychosocial stressors from their illness and treatment.
• Hospitalization and aggressive treatments can lead to adverse psychological effects in pediatric oncology patients.
• There is a need for interventions to improve well-being and adaptation during cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To descriptively assess the implementation of an animal therapy program ('A Magical Dream') for hospitalized children with cancer using Donabedian's quality model.
• To document the connection between program participation, quality of care, and satisfaction among parents and nurses.
• To explore the potential of dog-assisted therapy to alleviate distress and enhance well-being.

Main Methods:

• A preliminary implementation study involving 16 parents and 12 nurses.
• Data collection via self-administered questionnaires for parents and nurses.
• Evaluation of program quality based on user profiles, intervention process, organizational structure, and client outcomes.

Main Results:

• Dog-assisted therapy appears to alleviate psychological distress in children and parents.
• The program may facilitate adaptation to the therapeutic process for hospitalized children.
• Participating parents and nurses reported positive experiences and satisfaction with the animal therapy intervention.

Conclusions:

• Animal therapy, specifically dog-assisted therapy, shows promise in improving the well-being of children with cancer during hospitalization.
• The intervention may enhance the quality of care by addressing emotional and psychological needs.
• Further research is planned to verify the effectiveness of this intervention in a larger pediatric oncology population.