The effects of assistance dogs on psychosocial health and wellbeing: A systematic literature review.

ABSTRACT: Beyond the functional tasks that assistance dogs are trained for, there is growing literature describing their benefits on the psychosocial health and wellbeing of their handlers. However, this research is not only widely disparate but, despite its growth, has not been reviewed since 2012. Our objective was to identify, summarize, and methodologically evaluate studies quantifying the psychosocial effects of assistance dogs for individuals with physical disabilities. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted across seven electronic databases. Records were independently screened by two authors. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they assessed outcomes from guide, hearing, medical, or mobility service dogs, if they collected original data on handlers' psychosocial fun

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7710121 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature