title: Animal-assisted interventions research: issues and answers.
abstract: Animal visitation programs have been used in a wide variety of clinical settings with predominantly positive outcomes reported anecdotally. However, there is also a growing body of research investigating the effects of these interventions. Developing and conducting rigorous studies of animal interventions can be a complex and challenging process, The purpose of this article is to identify and discuss several issues arising with this type of research and to posit suggestions for avoiding pitfalls.
authors.affiliation: Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Johannes S J
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Odendaal
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Meadows
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*