| Hospitalized youth with cancer are at risk for the development of a variety of psychological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, social difficulties) and physical impairments (e.g., impaired gait, decreased range of motion, fatigue). However, treatment efforts aimed at addressing these issues are often overshadowed by primary medical interventions for the cancer itself. Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), whether used alone or adjunctively with other mental-health or physical therapy interventions, offers a unique and creative way to improve both the psychosocial and physical functioning of this population.The current project involved developing a treatment manual directing the use of dog-based AAT to hospitalized cancer patients between the ages of 6 and 12 years. The resulting manual was informed by a review of the literature on the psychosocial and physical impact of pediatric cancer, a review of the literature on pertinent mental health, physical therapy, and AAT interventions, and the author's clinical experience conducting AAT. The manual comprises descriptive information about AAT and pediatric cancer followed by chapters guiding the application of AAT to selected psychosocial and physical needs of the target population, as described in the literature. AAT interventions are paired with relevant symptoms and with corresponding psychological or physical therapy interventions through the use of tables and explanatory text. In addition, the manual provides a range of initial assessment strategies, program implementation guidelines, options for managing termination, discharge and follow-up care, self-help strategies for those working with medically ill pediatric populations, and methods for evaluating both patient outcome and program satisfaction. The manual also provides the user with a resource guide identifying additional sources of information regarding AAT and pediatric cancer. Following a discussion of the manual's strengths, limitations, and how it might be improved through future modifications, plans for evaluating the efficacy of the manualized AAT intervention and disseminating it to relevant professionals are described. |
