Canine-Assisted Therapy in Hospitalized Patients Awaiting Heart Transplantation

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychiatry
• Animal-assisted interventions

Background:

• Patients awaiting heart transplantation often experience prolonged waiting periods.
• High prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress is documented in this patient population.
• Current medical care may not fully address the psychological burden of transplantation waiting lists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and impact of canine-assisted therapy (CAT) for patients awaiting heart transplantation.
• To assess the psychological effects of CAT on anxiety, depression, and stress levels.
• To determine patient perception of CAT's efficacy and their willingness to recommend it.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, multicenter study involving status 1a heart transplantation candidates.
• Administration of Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Perceived Stress Scale at various intervals.
• Post-intervention questionnaire to assess overall efficacy and patient satisfaction with CAT.

Main Results:

• Baseline assessments indicated high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress.
• Trends toward significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and stress scores were observed post-intervention.
• All patients reported improved quality of hospitalization, recommended CAT, and would opt for it again.
• No infectious complications were reported during the study.

Conclusions:

• Anxiety, stress, and depression are significant issues for heart transplantation candidates.
• Canine-assisted therapy (CAT) is a feasible and well-tolerated intervention for this population.
• CAT serves as a valuable adjunct to standard medical care, enhancing patient well-being during the waiting period.