title: Effects of partnerships between people with mobility challenges and service dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of partnerships between people with disabilities and service dogs on functional performance and social interaction. METHOD. A single-subject, alternating treatment design was used. The participants were 3 women with mobility challenges who owned service dogs. For each participant, time and perceived amount of effort for two tasks were measured for functional performance. Interaction and satisfaction levels were measured for social interactions. RESULTS. Primary findings were that service dog partnerships decreased performance time for four of the six tasks, decreased effort for five of the six tasks, increased social interactions for 2 of the participants, and increased levels of satisfaction with social interactions for all participants. CONCLUSION. For adult women with mobility challenges, service dog partnerships may contribute to energy conservation through decreased time and effort required to complete some tasks and may increase social interactions.
authors.affiliation: Terry K. Crowe, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor, Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, 1 University of New Mexico MSCO9 5240-HSSB 125, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001; tcrowe@salud.unm.edu.
authors.forename: Terry K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.affiliation: Suzanne Perea-Burns, MOTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Encompass Home Health, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perea-Burns
authors.affiliation: Jessica Salazar Sedillo, MOTS, is Occupational Therapy Graduate Student, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
authors.forename: Jessica Salazar
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sedillo
authors.affiliation: Ingrid C. Hendrix, MILS, AHIP, is Nursing Services Librarian, Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
authors.forename: Ingrid C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.affiliation: Melissa Winkle, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Dogwood Therapy Services Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winkle
authors.affiliation: Jean Deitz, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor Emeritus, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction