The DOI matches its Crossref record; 8 of the 8 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Enhancing Patients’ Well-Being: Systematic Study of the Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence
Abstract
Background: Animal-assisted therapy, also known as pet therapy, is a therapeutic intervention that involves animals to enhance the well-being of individuals across various populations and settings. Objective: This systematic study aims to assess the outcomes of animal-assisted therapy interventions and explore the associated policies. Methods: A total of 16 papers published between 2015 and 2023 were selected for analysis. These papers were chosen based on their relevance to the research topic of animal-assisted therapy and their availability in scholarly databases. Thematic synthesis and meta-analysis were used to synthesize the qualitative and quantitative data extracted from the selected papers. Results: The analysis included 16 studies that met the inclusion criteria and were deemed to be of moderate or higher quality. Among these studies, 4 demonstrated positive results for therapeutic mediation and one for supportive mediation in psychiatric disorders. Additionally, all studies showed positive outcomes for depression and neurological disorders. Regarding stress and anxiety, 3 studies indicated supportive mediation, while 2 studies showed activating mediation. Conclusions: The overall assessment of animal-assisted therapy shows promise as an effective intervention in promoting well-being among diverse populations. Further research and the establishment of standardized outcome assessment measures and comprehensive policies are essential for advancing the field and maximizing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy.
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Animal-assisted therapy helps individuals cope with or recover from health issues by fostering relaxation, reducing emotional distress, and providing a sense of purpose.
“This targeted intervention, based on positive human-animal interactions, helps individuals cope with or recover from health issues by fostering relaxation, reducing emotional distress, and providing a sense of purpose [3].”
From The Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence-Based Pet Therapy in Improving the Care of Patients: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
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The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews
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A Simple Reason for a Big Difference
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Dogs recognize dog and human emotions
Albuquerque, N., Guo, K., Wilkinson, A., Savalli, C., Otta, E., & Mills, D. (2016) · Biology Letters · doi:10.1098/rsbl.2015.0883 · Cited by 347
Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: a systematic literature review
O'Haire, M. E., Guérin, N. A., & Kirkham, A. C. (2015) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01121 · Cited by 202
Animal-assisted therapies for youth with or at risk for mental health problems: A systematic review
Hoagwood, K. E., Acri, M., Morrissey, M., & Peth-Pierce, R. (2017) · Applied Developmental Science · doi:10.1080/10888691.2015.1134267 · Cited by 158
Animals in Healthcare Facilities: Recommendations to Minimize Potential Risks
Murthy, R., Bearman, G., Brown, S., Bryant, K., Chinn, R., Hewlett, A., George, B. G., Goldstein, E. J. C., Holzmann-Pazgal, G., Rupp, M. E., et al. (2015) · Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology · doi:10.1017/ice.2015.15 · Cited by 142
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Trajbarič, T., Muršec, D., Svenšek, A., Štiglic, G., & Gosak, L. (2026) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app16104683
Metadata
- Authors
- Pandey, R. P., Himanshu, Gunjan, Mukherjee, R., & Chang, C.-M.
- Venue
- JMIRx Med
- Publisher
- JMIR Publications Inc.
- Published
- 2024-03-18
- Volume
- 5
- Pages
- e51787-e51787
- ISSN
- 2563-6316
- PMC
- PMC10986847
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 8
- Language
- en
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