title: Perceived risks and benefits of hippotherapy among parents of children currently engaged in or waiting for hippotherapy: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Explore the perceived risks and benefits of hippotherapy among parents of children currently engaged in or waiting rehabilitation using hippotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phenomenological qualitative exploratory pilot study. An interview guide validated by experts was used to conduct the interviews. Summaries were written to capture first impressions. One team member coded the transcripts and the coding was validated by the research team through discussion until consensus was reached.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the participants (n = 4) was 37.3 ± 6.6 years. The few risks they perceived related to physical injuries. Lack of knowledge of contraindications, lack of fear, minimization of risks, and risk-attenuation factors also emerged as important themes. Benefits accounted for a large part of the content of the interviews and were grouped under 13 themes, including motor and postural control, enjoyment and the development of a special relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimization of the perceived risks compared to the numerous perceived benefits could create clinical issues such as the client putting self at risk of injuries (e.g., bites, falls, and kicks) if not cautious enough or complications insufficiently prevented, which suggests the need to develop educational activities for an informed consent to this type of rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: a School of Rehabilitation , Montreal University , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.|b Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR) , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.|c Clinique de réadaptation Carolyne Mainville (CRCM) , Saint-Hyacinthe , Quebec , Canada.|d Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux des Laurentides, Point de services de Saint-Jérôme, Sainte-Thérèse , Quebec , Canada.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Léveillé
authors.affiliation: a School of Rehabilitation , Montreal University , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.|b Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR) , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rochette
authors.affiliation: c Clinique de réadaptation Carolyne Mainville (CRCM) , Saint-Hyacinthe , Quebec , Canada.
authors.forename: Carolyne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mainville
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D061214:Patient Safety; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists
keywords: Benefits; children; hippotherapy; qualitative study; risks