The effects of animal-assisted therapy on loneliness in an elderly population in long-term care facilities
The effects of animal-assisted therapy on loneliness in an elderly population in long-term care facilities
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DOI：
10.1093/gerona/57.7.m428
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发表时间：
2002-07-01
影响因子：
5.1
通讯作者：
Banks, WA
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Banks, MR;Banks, WA
背景。动物辅助疗法（AAT）被认为有各种各样的好处，但几乎所有发表的结果都是轶事。我们对长期护理机构中渴望AAT的居住人群进行了特征分析，并确定AAT是否能客观地改善孤独感。在62名居民中，有45人符合研究的纳入标准。采用人口统计与宠物史问卷（DPHQ）和UCLA孤独感量表（UCLA- ls）进行问卷调查。然后，他们被随机分为三组（无AAT: AAT 1次/周；AAT 3次/周；n 15次/组），并在6周研究结束时再次进行UCLA-LS测试。DPHQ的使用表明，自愿参加这项研究的居民与宠物有着强烈的情感亲密关系，并希望他们现在有一只宠物。协方差分析和两两比较显示，与未接受AAT治疗的组相比，接受AAT治疗的孤独感得分显著降低。对AAT的渴望与以前的宠物饲养密切相关。AAT减少了长期护理机构居民的孤独感。
Background. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is claimed to have a variety of benefits, but almost all published results are anecdotal. We characterized the resident population in long-term care facilities desiring AAT and determined whether AAT can objectively improve loneliness.Methods. Of 62 residents, 45 met inclusion criteria for the study. These 45 residents were administered the Demographic and Pet History Questionnaire (DPHQ) and Version 3 of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS). They were then randomized into three groups (no AAT AAT once/week: AAT three times/week; n 15/group) and retested with the UCLA-LS near the end of the 6-week study.Results. Use of the DPHQ showed residents volunteering for the study had a strong life-history of emotional intimacy with pets and wished that they currently had a pet. AAT was shown by analysis of covariance followed by pair-wise comparison to have significantly reduced loneliness scores in comparison with the no AAT group.Conclusions. The desire for AAT strongly correlates with previous pet ownership. AAT reduces loneliness in residents of long-term care facilities.