Dataset Information

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Animal-Assisted Activities in Pediatric Hospitals.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The goal of this study was to document current hospital-based animal-assisted activities (AAA) practices.

Method

We contacted 20 hospitals and asked about their AAA programs, including COVID-19 precautions.

Results

Eighteen of 20 hospitals responded. Before 2020, all offered either in-person only (n = 17) or both in-person and virtual AAA visits (n = 1). In early 2022, 13 provided in-person visits; the five hospitals that had not resumed in-person visits planned to restart. Most hospitals stopped group visits. Most required that patients and handlers be free of COVID-19 symptoms and that handlers be vaccinated and wear masks and eye protection. Most did not require COVID-19 vaccination for patients. None required handlers to test negative for COVID-19.

Discussion

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted hospital-based pediatric AAA. Future studies should assess the effectiveness of virtual AAA and of precautions to prevent COVID-19 transmission between patients and AAA volunteers.

SUBMITTER: Chubak J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9547756 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Animal-Assisted Activities in Pediatric Hospitals.

Chubak Jessica J Pocobelli Gaia G Ziebell Rebecca A RA Hawkes Rene J RJ Adler Amanda A Bobb Jennifer F JF Zerr Danielle M DM

Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners 20220930 2

<h4>Introduction</h4>The goal of this study was to document current hospital-based animal-assisted activities (AAA) practices.<h4>Method</h4>We contacted 20 hospitals and asked about their AAA programs, including COVID-19 precautions.<h4>Results</h4>Eighteen of 20 hospitals responded. Before 2020, all offered either in-person only (n = 17) or both in-person and virtual AAA visits (n = 1). In early 2022, 13 provided in-person visits; the five hospitals that had not resumed in-person visits planne ...[more]

PMID: 36266165

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Project description:BackgroundChildhood cancer entails a heavy burden for patients and their families. Recent advances in overall survival rates have increasingly brought long-term quality of life into focus. Animal-assisted activities (AAAs) have long been hypothesized to alleviate the burden on pediatric patients and their peers in the hospital setting. However, their use in inpatient pediatric oncology has been a sensitive issue mainly due to the fear of infections, resulting in a lack of studies. This study presents data on the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of AAAs from a single German center.MethodsBetween 2018 and 2022, 60 patients (median age = 10.3 years) diagnosed with malignancy and undergoing treatment were visited by an intervention dog (total visits = 100). Patients were screened for infections as per hospital policy, with additional microbiological testing performed based on symptoms. The dog was screened for human pathogens and zoonoses. Microbial data and hospitalizations were analyzed from two months prior to the first visit until two months after the last visit. Acceptance of being in the hospital, both with and without planned animal-assisted interventions and pre- and post-intervention state stress, were measured using a validated visual analogue scale (0-10).ResultsPatients benefited from AAAs, showing increased acceptance of being in the hospital (median: 7.25 vs. 4.50, P < 0.001) and decreased median state stress ratings one hour after the visit compared to one hour before the visit (1.00 vs. 4.25, P < 0.001). The intervention did not result in an increased number of infections or unplanned hospitalizations, and no zoonoses were detected. All microbial screening tests of the dog were negative.ConclusionsAAAs with visiting dogs in inpatient pediatric oncology are feasible and safe. Although they hold promise for enhancing patients' well-being, further prospective studies are needed. Supplementary file 2 (MP4 240076 KB).

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Dataset Information

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Animal-Assisted Activities in Pediatric Hospitals.

Introduction

Method

Results

Discussion

Publications

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Animal-Assisted Activities in Pediatric Hospitals.

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