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Animal-Assisted Therapy as an Intervention for Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis to Guide
Sun Ju Chang1, Jongeun Lee2, Hyeran An3
1College of Nursing and the Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
|December 5, 2020
Summary
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) significantly improves health in older adults across multiple domains. This review provides evidence and guidelines for effective AAT interventions, particularly for depression.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Therapeutic Interventions
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) shows potential for improving health in older adults.
- Lack of specific intervention guidelines limits AAT application in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore AAT applications for older adults.
- To analyze the health effects of AAT in this demographic.
- To provide evidence for future AAT interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
- Narrative synthesis and meta-analysis for depression outcomes.
- Analysis of 47 selected studies.
Main Results:
- 45% of studies focused on older adults with diseases like dementia.
- Dogs were the most common intervention animal (57.4%).
- Meta-analysis indicated a significant effect size for AAT in depression ([-1.900, -.721]).
Conclusions:
- AAT is effective for physiological, psychosocial, cognitive, and behavioral health in older adults.
- Intervention planning should consider health outcomes, animal choice, and intervention content.
- Evidence supports AAT as a valuable therapeutic approach for geriatric populations.
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