Canine visitation (pet) therapy: pilot data on decreases in child pain perception.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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 post intervention interview.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The study findings suggest that CVT may be a useful adjunct to traditional pain management for children.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses may better serve their patients when CVT is an option.
Sobo
Elisa J
EJ
San Diego State University, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
Eng
Brenda
B
Kassity-Krich
Nadine
N
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires