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Human-animal interaction bulletin
Limited research has documented the benefits of animals for children’s learning and development, ... more Limited research has documented the benefits of animals for children’s learning and development, with a growing number of elementary school teachers incorporating pets into their classrooms. This study assessed the social, behavioral, and academic effects of the presence of small, resident classroom animals for third and fourth-grade students across the United States. A total of 591 students from 41 classrooms (pet cohort = 20; no pet cohort = 21) and 19 schools participated. Classroom animals included guinea pigs, fish, lizards, hamsters, toad, gerbil, turtle, and tortoise. Data were collected at three designated time points over one academic year: T1 = one month into the school year (pre-pet introduction); T2 = 12 weeks post-pet introduction; T3 = just prior to school year end (approximately 28- to 30 weeks post-pet introduction). Teachers and parents completed the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales (SSIS) and the Social Competence Inventory (SCI), and students complet...
This document is a comprehensive review of the literature on childhood cancer epidemiology; pedia... more This document is a comprehensive review of the literature on childhood cancer epidemiology; pediatric oncology treatment; physical and psychosocial well-being impacts of childhood cancer for children and their families; human-animal bond history and research; and the application of animal-assisted interventions with various populations in need, particularly those affected by childhood cancer. This literature review is a key product completed during the first year of work on the Canines and …
Pediatrics, 2018
Purpose Evidence concerning the psychosocial benefits of animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for f... more Purpose Evidence concerning the psychosocial benefits of animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for families facing serious illness is limited, despite the prevalence of therapy dog programs in pediatric hospitals (Chubak & Hawkes, 2016). This presentation will describe a multi-site, randomized controlled trial aimed at measuring AAI’s effects on stress and anxiety among children newly diagnosed with cancer and their parents, as well as the children’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods IRB and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval was obtained and maintained from the host organization …
Focus groups and interviews were conducted at three U.S. children’s hospitals to gain the perspec... more Focus groups and interviews were conducted at three U.S. children’s hospitals to gain the perspectives of staff, parents of pediatric oncology patients, adolescent cancer survivors, and therapy dog handlers regarding the role of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as an adjunctive intervention for children with cancer and their families. Most participants believed AAT is beneficial when visits are consistent and introduced shortly after diagnosis, especially for young patients. Qualitative findings …
For many people, animals take center stage in their daily lives, offering companionship, comfort,... more For many people, animals take center stage in their daily lives, offering companionship, comfort, joy and for some, even kinship. Increasingly, greater attention has been given to the roles that animals can play in supporting the health and emotional well-being of people in need, specifically through the use of animal-assisted therapy (AAT). However, while the field of human-animal interaction (HAI) research has expanded enormously in recent years, it is still unclear whether the incorporation …
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), over 35 million people are ho... more According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), over 35 million people are hospitalized in the U.S. every year. Many hospitals across the country have incorporated animal programs, such as “animalassisted therapy” (AAT), “animal-assisted activities” (AAA), “animal-assisted interactions or interventions” (AAI), resident animals, or pet visitation to give patients the opportunity to interact safely with dogs and to make the hospital environment more comfortable and less stressful.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science
argument for the use of cortisol in canine well-being research. This study discusses the importan... more argument for the use of cortisol in canine well-being research. This study discusses the importance of further investigation to confirm these findings, which may lead to enhanced canine involvement in hospital settings.
Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing
This multicenter, parallel-group, randomized trial examined the effects of an animal-assisted int... more This multicenter, parallel-group, randomized trial examined the effects of an animal-assisted intervention on the stress, anxiety, and health-related quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer and their parents. Newly diagnosed patients, aged 3 to 17 years (n = 106), were randomized to receive either standard care plus regular visits from a therapy dog (intervention group), or standard care only (control group). Data were collected at set points over 4 months of the child's treatment. Measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory™, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Pediatric Inventory for Parents, and child blood pressure and heart rate. All instruments were completed by the child and/or his/her parent(s). Children in both groups experienced a significant reduction in state anxiety ( P < .001). Parents in the intervention group showed significantly decreased parenting stress ( P = .008), with no changes in stress among parents in the control group. However, no significant differences between groups over time on any measures were observed. Animal-assisted interventions may provide certain benefits for parents and families during the initial stages of pediatric cancer treatment.
Human-animal interaction bulletin
Limited research has documented the benefits of animals for children’s learning and development, ... more Limited research has documented the benefits of animals for children’s learning and development, with a growing number of elementary school teachers incorporating pets into their classrooms. This study assessed the social, behavioral, and academic effects of the presence of small, resident classroom animals for third and fourth-grade students across the United States. A total of 591 students from 41 classrooms (pet cohort = 20; no pet cohort = 21) and 19 schools participated. Classroom animals included guinea pigs, fish, lizards, hamsters, toad, gerbil, turtle, and tortoise. Data were collected at three designated time points over one academic year: T1 = one month into the school year (pre-pet introduction); T2 = 12 weeks post-pet introduction; T3 = just prior to school year end (approximately 28- to 30 weeks post-pet introduction). Teachers and parents completed the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales (SSIS) and the Social Competence Inventory (SCI), and students complet...
This document is a comprehensive review of the literature on childhood cancer epidemiology; pedia... more This document is a comprehensive review of the literature on childhood cancer epidemiology; pediatric oncology treatment; physical and psychosocial well-being impacts of childhood cancer for children and their families; human-animal bond history and research; and the application of animal-assisted interventions with various populations in need, particularly those affected by childhood cancer. This literature review is a key product completed during the first year of work on the Canines and …
Pediatrics, 2018
Purpose Evidence concerning the psychosocial benefits of animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for f... more Purpose Evidence concerning the psychosocial benefits of animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for families facing serious illness is limited, despite the prevalence of therapy dog programs in pediatric hospitals (Chubak & Hawkes, 2016). This presentation will describe a multi-site, randomized controlled trial aimed at measuring AAI’s effects on stress and anxiety among children newly diagnosed with cancer and their parents, as well as the children’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods IRB and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval was obtained and maintained from the host organization …
Focus groups and interviews were conducted at three U.S. children’s hospitals to gain the perspec... more Focus groups and interviews were conducted at three U.S. children’s hospitals to gain the perspectives of staff, parents of pediatric oncology patients, adolescent cancer survivors, and therapy dog handlers regarding the role of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as an adjunctive intervention for children with cancer and their families. Most participants believed AAT is beneficial when visits are consistent and introduced shortly after diagnosis, especially for young patients. Qualitative findings …
For many people, animals take center stage in their daily lives, offering companionship, comfort,... more For many people, animals take center stage in their daily lives, offering companionship, comfort, joy and for some, even kinship. Increasingly, greater attention has been given to the roles that animals can play in supporting the health and emotional well-being of people in need, specifically through the use of animal-assisted therapy (AAT). However, while the field of human-animal interaction (HAI) research has expanded enormously in recent years, it is still unclear whether the incorporation …
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), over 35 million people are ho... more According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), over 35 million people are hospitalized in the U.S. every year. Many hospitals across the country have incorporated animal programs, such as “animalassisted therapy” (AAT), “animal-assisted activities” (AAA), “animal-assisted interactions or interventions” (AAI), resident animals, or pet visitation to give patients the opportunity to interact safely with dogs and to make the hospital environment more comfortable and less stressful.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science
argument for the use of cortisol in canine well-being research. This study discusses the importan... more argument for the use of cortisol in canine well-being research. This study discusses the importance of further investigation to confirm these findings, which may lead to enhanced canine involvement in hospital settings.
Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing
This multicenter, parallel-group, randomized trial examined the effects of an animal-assisted int... more This multicenter, parallel-group, randomized trial examined the effects of an animal-assisted intervention on the stress, anxiety, and health-related quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer and their parents. Newly diagnosed patients, aged 3 to 17 years (n = 106), were randomized to receive either standard care plus regular visits from a therapy dog (intervention group), or standard care only (control group). Data were collected at set points over 4 months of the child's treatment. Measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory™, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Pediatric Inventory for Parents, and child blood pressure and heart rate. All instruments were completed by the child and/or his/her parent(s). Children in both groups experienced a significant reduction in state anxiety ( P < .001). Parents in the intervention group showed significantly decreased parenting stress ( P = .008), with no changes in stress among parents in the control group. However, no significant differences between groups over time on any measures were observed. Animal-assisted interventions may provide certain benefits for parents and families during the initial stages of pediatric cancer treatment.