title: Animal-Assisted Therapy and Counseling Support for Women With Breast Cancer: An Exploration of Patient's Perceptions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) interventions have been shown to assist in coping and improve patient responses to symptoms. Specifically, the presence of an animal has been found to lower anxiety and motivate participation in therapy. We aimed to explore the acceptability of and experience of AAT during individual breast cancer counseling sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undertaking counseling with a therapy dog present were invited to participate in the study. Patients were individually interviewed and asked to reflect on their experiences of AAT. Data generation and analysis were concurrent. Transcripts were analyzed thematically using a process of constant comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our sample included 8 female participants, 39 to 61 years old, at an average of 3 years post-breast cancer diagnosis. The majority of patients reported a positive experience with AAT. Themes that emerged around their counseling experience included benefits in the process of initiating counseling and benefits for greater engagement and personal disclosure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incorporating AAT into the delivery of counseling for breast cancer patients appears to be feasible and acceptable at a patient level. From a clinical perspective, AAT promoted increased communication with health professionals. This is of clinical importance as a means to improve participation and engagement in therapy-important elements in therapeutic outcomes. However, further evaluation of the impact of AAT on specific patient outcomes and psychological morbidity is required.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Jennifer.White@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.affiliation: University of Regina, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dirkse
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wiebe
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Linda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: animal; breast cancer; psychological morbidity; qualitative; therapy