Animal-assisted intervention services across UK intensive care units: A national service evaluation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) can provide psychological support to critical care patients during their intensive care unit (ICU) admission. However, there are currently no data on AAI services across UK ICUs. The current study therefore aims to (i) determine how many ICUs in the UK offer services, (ii) characterise available services and (iii) explore and review local documentation for service oversight.

Methods

A service evaluation comprising two parts; a national survey of UK ICU's, analysed using descriptive statistics, and review of local service oversight documents, analysed using a framework approach.

Results

Responses from 74 sites (/242, 30.6%) were included in survey analysis. AAI services were present at 32 sites (/74, 43.2%), of which 30 of

SUBMITTER: Wright S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11624518 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature