ABSTRACT
Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) has shown benefits in people with mental health disorders. A child psychiatric day hospital would be a suitable setting to implement DAT and evaluate the benefits in a pediatric population. METHODS: Mixed methods research in a naturalistic setting was considered in this pre-post quantitative study including 23 children under 13 treated in a day hospital over 2 years. Quantitative analysis included the number of emotional and behavioral outbursts and attendance rate and self-control and social impairment questionnaires completed by family members and therapists. In the qualitative study, the experiences of 12 mental health professionals involved in DAT were documented through semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: On DAT days, there were fewer emotional and behavioral outbursts and higher attendance. Significant differences were obtained between pre- and post-test scores on the SCRS and the SRS-2 completed by the therapists, while no significant differences were obtained on the questionnaires completed by the parents. Observations based on the qualitative study were as follows: (1) DAT improves emotional self-regulation; (2) DAT could facilitate the work of therapists in day hospitals; (3) health professionals displayed uncertainty due to a lack of familiarity with DAT. CONCLUSIONS: DAT improved emotional self-regulation, attendance rate and self-control and social response in children with mental disorders attending a day hospital.
ABSTRACT
El virus SARS-CoV-2 llevó a la puesta en marcha de medidas de aislamiento extremas en pa-cientes hospitalizados, con la consecuente prohibición de visitas de familiares, y de la libre circulación del personal no sanitario dentro del hospital. La hospitalización como entrada a un lugar extraño y hostil, puede generar diferentes sensaciones en los pacientes, entre ellas temor e incertidumbre. El presente trabajo describe el desarrollo e implementación de un programa asistencial para responder la necesidad de comunicación entre pacientes y fami-liares, durante su ingreso hospitalario por COVID-19. El programa se estructuró en tres fases (pre-llamada, llamada/videollamada y post-llamada). Se realizaron 451 intervenciones. La mayor demanda de intervención para comunicación fue procedente de salas de hospitali-zación convencional con un 56,74% y un 43,25% de salas de críticos. El programa puso de manifiesto situaciones relacionadas con la hospitalización y el aisla-miento; rápidamente se activó un programa para humanizar el proceso asistencial durante la pandemia por COVID-19 y mantener el contacto de pacientes y familiares de utilizando las nuevas tecnologías de la comunicación. (AU)
The SARS-CoV-2 virus led to the implementation of extreme isolation measures in hospi-talized patients, with the consequent prohibition of family visits, and the f ree movement of non-health personnel within the hospital. Hospitalization as an entrance to a strange and hostile place could generate different emotions in patients, including fear and un-certainty. This article describes the development and implementation of a program to respond to the need for communication between patients and their families, during their hospitalization due to COVID-19. The program was structured in three phases (pre-call, call/video call and post-call). 451 interventions were carried out. The highest demand for intervention for communication came f rom conventional hospital wards with 56.74% and 43.25% f rom critical wards.The program revealed situations related to hospitalization and isolation; A program was quickly activated to humanize the care process during the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain contact with patients and families using new communication technologies. (AU)
