Canine Visitation (Pet) Therapy: Pilot Data on Decreases in Child Pain Perception
Abstract
Purpose:To explore the effectiveness of canine visitation therapy (CVT) in pediatric pain management in a tertiary care children's hospital, a descriptive pilot study was conducted. Method:A convenience sample of 25 English-speaking children ages 5 to 18 years who underwent surgery and experienced acute postoperative pain participated in a standard, one-time CVT intervention. Each child completed a pre-post survey and a postintervention interview. Findings: Quantitative pre-post findings indicate that CVT significantly reduced perceived pain. Qualitative findings suggest that one mechanism that makes CVT effective may be cognitive. That is, CVTdistracts children from pain-related cognition and possibly activates comforting thoughts regarding companionship or home. Conclusion:The study findings suggest that CVT may be a useful adjunct to traditional pain management for children. Implications:Nurses may better serve their patients when CVT is an option.
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Resident or visiting dogs in prisons, nursing homes, mental institutions, and hospitals can reduce patient anxiety in a hospital emergency department, reduce pain perceptions in children after surgery, or calm young patients at a pediatric dental clinic.
“Examples include resident or visiting dogs in prisons, nursing homes [33], mental institutions, and hospitals where they can reduce patient anxiety in a hospital emergency department [34], reduce pain perceptions in children after surgery [35], or calm young patients at a pediatric dental clinic [36].”
From A One Health Perspective on the Human-Companion Animal Relationship with Emphasis on Zoonotic Aspects. (2020) · cites this paper as [35]
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The human-companion animal bond: How humans benefit
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Tanaka, K., Hayakawa, M., Noda, C., Nakamura, A., & Akiyama, C. (2022) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health · doi:10.1186/s13034-022-00519-1 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Retracted
- Authors
- Sobo, E. J., Eng, B., & Kassity-Krich, N.
- Affiliations
- San Diego State University (US)
- Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego (US)
- Contemplative Care Consultants
- ORCID
- Sobo, Elisa J.
- Venue
- Journal of Holistic Nursing
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2006-03
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 51-57
- ISSN
- 0898-0101 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-5724
- OpenAlex
- W2059822793
- Cited by
- 174
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 2.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Holistic Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
- Keywords
- animal-assisted therapy, pediatric pain management, postoperative pain, children, pain perception, distraction, cognitive mechanisms, nurse-patient relationship, children's hospitals
- MeSH terms
- Acute Disease, Adolescent, Animals, Animals, Domestic, Human-Animal Bond, Child, Child Welfare, Child, Hospitalized, Female, Holistic Health, Hospitals, Pediatric, Humans, Male, Pain, Postoperative, Postoperative Pain, Pilot Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological
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