Dog visits in nursing homes - increase complexity or keep it simple? A randomised controlled study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare the immediate response of nursing home residents to dog visits with or without an activity, and the impact of cognitive ability.

Methods

In a randomly controlled trial, 174 nursing home residents were allocated to 12 bi-weekly 10-minute visits: either ordinary dog visits (D, n = 57, 49 analysed), dog visits with an activity (DA, n = 56, 48 analysed), or visits with activity but no dog (A, n = 61, 54 analysed). We recorded frequency and duration of residents' verbal and physical interactions with the dog and persons. Data were analysed in three periods of four visits (period 1-3) as binomial variables (generalised linear models) or durations (non-parametric statistics).

Results

Both visit type and impairment level affected the likelihood of interac

SUBMITTER: Thodberg K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8153477 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature