Animal-Assisted Activity Among Patients With Cancer: Effects on Mood, Fatigue, Self-Perceived Health, and Sense of Coherence

Johnson et al. 2008 found no beneficial effects of AAI.

“Johnson et al. (2008) found no beneficial effects of aaI”

Only two studies, Johnson et al. 2008 and Villalta-Gil et al. 2009, utilized an active control group that participated in a comparison intervention rather than a waitlist control or treatment as usual.

“only two studies (Johnson et al. 2008;Villalta-Gil et al. 2009) utilized an active control group which participated in a comparison intervention as opposed to a waitlist control condition or treatment as usual.”

It is unclear whether the null findings obtained by Johnson et al. 2008 may be attributed to a lack of efficacy of AAI with dogs, individual sessions, inadequate dosage, or simply lack of power.

“thus, it is unclear whether the null findings obtained by Johnson et al. (2008) may be attributed to a lack of efficacy of aaI with dogs, which is unlikely given the findings of other well-controlled studies, individual sessions (as opposed to group sessions), inadequate dosage, or simply lack of power.”

In Johnson et al., even unstructured human interaction at the same frequency and intensity was not helpful.

“Importantly even unstructured human interaction at the same frequency and intensity was not helpful.”

Johnson et al. had a small sample and a shorter intervention duration of 15 minutes, three times per week, for four weeks, than other studies in both session duration and length of treatment.

“however, the sample was small and the intervention was shorter in duration (15 minutes, three times per week, for four weeks) than those described in other studies both in terms of session duration and length of treatment.”

All but one study, Johnson et al. 2008, reported at least some beneficial psychological effects of AAIs.

“all but one study (Johnson et al. 2008) reported at least some beneficial psychological effects of aaIs.”

The only study that used individual sessions as opposed to group sessions, Johnson et al. 2008, found no beneficial effects as a result of dog-assisted therapy.

“the only study that used individual sessions as opposed to group sessions (Johnson et al. 2008) found no beneficial effects as a result of dog-assisted therapy.”

The only non-significant study, Johnson et al. 2008, involved a minimal, short-term, unstructured intervention with cancer patients in active radiotherapy.

“the only non-significant study (Johnson et al. 2008) involved a minimal, short-term, unstructured intervention with cancer patients in active radio therapy.”

There was no evidence for the use of canine-assisted therapy with cancer patients.

“In contrast, there was no evidence for the use of canine-assisted therapy with cancer patients (Johnson et al. 2008)”

Our previous research demonstrated that emotionally stressed adult cancer patients who interacted quietly with a companion animal reported the visiting dog provided them comfort and was a confidant who made them happy and gave them energy.

“Our previous research demonstrated that emotionally stressed adult cancer patients who interacted quietly with a companion animal reported the visiting dog provided them comfort and was a confidant who made them happy and gave them energy [73].”