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Animal-assisted therapy with hospitalized adolescents
1Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.
Abstract
Problem:
To ascertain the effects of animal-assisted therapy on hospitalized adolescents.
Methods:
Thirty adolescents hospitalized in a 16-bed psychiatric unit. Data collection included patient journals, interviews with 15 patients, and anecdotal notes from observations and staff reports. The ethnographic method was used for data analysis.
Findings:
Categories identified from the data include the dog as a component of the milieu, as friend, and as therapist. The dog served as a catalyst for interactions, and often had human qualities ascribed to him by the adolescents.
Conclusion:
This study provides new information that can enhance patient care.