Exploring the effect of animal assisted therapy on pediatric anxiety during invasive procedures

This study evaluated the effect of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) support on pediatric anxiety during invasive procedures in a hospital setting. It was hypothesized that patients undergoing procedures with AAT would experience less anxiety than with CCLS services alone.

Data were collected during a Quality Improvement (QI) study. The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) was used to measure observed anxiety in both the intervention and control groups. Data were analyzed using independent samples, paired t-tests, and one-way ANOVA.

Mean anxiety scores were significantly lower in the intervention group across all measurement points. Findings included a 30 % decrease in toddler anxiety scores intra-procedurally and 27 % post-procedurally, as well as a decrease of 4 % in school aged children post-procedurally with AAT. Children receiving non-needle procedures saw a 31 % decrease in anxiety scores pre-procedure with AAT, and needle procedure anxiety scores were reduced by 24 % intra-procedurally. AAT support reduced anxiety scores during and after port-a-catheter procedures by 20 % and 14 %, respectively. Interestingly, hispanic patients saw significant reductions in anxiety at all time periods, compared to other ethnicities.

Findings suggest that AAT successfully reduces anxiety when combined with child life services, particularly for children ages 2-5 and during needle procedures. Hispanic children of all ages benefited as well.

CCLS assessment is essential to guide the success of AAT as an interventional tool. The data adds to the limited literature, and advocates for the use of AAT combined with child life services to mitigate pediatric medical trauma.