ABSTRACT
Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been showing significant results in human health promotion. This study aimed to develop and present validity evidence of the Children-Dog Interaction Scale (CDIS) for the Brazilian population. Items were developed and evaluated by experts. Parents of children between 2 and 12 years old (n = 118) completed the CDIS and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Exploratory Factor Analysis generated two dimensions: Affective Interactions (23 items, α = .89) and Educational and Punitive Interactions (8 items, α = .65) between children and dogs. The significant correlations between CDIS and SDQ dimensions indicated that the interaction between children and dogs could be a significant variable for assessing children's behavioral problems. We concluded that CDIS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess children-dog interactions and screen children for IAA participation.
As Intervenções Assistidas por Animais (IAAs) apresentam resultados expressivos para a promoção da saúde humana. O objetivo deste artigo foi construir e apresentar evidências de validade da Escala de Interação entre Crianças e Cães (EICC) para a população brasileira. O instrumento foi desenvolvido a partir da literatura e submetido a análise de juízes, o qual respondido por 118 pais de crianças entre 2 e 12 anos de idade, juntamente com o Questionário de Capacidades e Dificuldades (SDQ). A partir da análise fatorial exploratória, foram extraídos os fatores Interação Afetiva (α = .89), 23 itens e Interação Educativa e Punitiva (α = .65), 8 itens. As correlações significativas entre dimensões da EICC e do SDQ indicam que a interação entre crianças e cães domésticos pode ser uma variável importante para a avaliação de problemas comportamentais. Conclui-se que a EICC apresenta bons índices de validade e confiabilidade e pode ser usada para a triagem de crianças.
Las intervenciones asistidas por animales (IAA) han mostrado resultados significativos para la promoción de la salud humana. El objetivo fue construir y presentar evidencia de validez de la Escala de Interacción entre Niños y Perros (EICC) para la población brasileña. El instrumento desarrollado a partir de la literatura y sometido al análisis de jueces, fue respondido por 118 padres de niños de entre 2 y 12 años, junto con el Cuestionario de Capacidades y Dificultades (SDQ). Del análisis factorial exploratorio, se extrajeron los factores interacción afectiva (23 elementos, α = ,89) y interacción educativa y punitiva (ocho elementos, α = ,65) Correlaciones significativas entre las dimensiones del EICC y el SDQ indican que la interacción entre los niños y los perros domésticos puede ser una variable importante para evaluar los problemas de comportamiento. Se concluye que el instrumento tiene buenos índices de validez y confiabilidad, y se puede utilizar para la detección de niños.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Child , Child Behavior , Child, Preschool , Dogs , Human-Animal Interaction , Psychometrics , Behavior , Surveys and Questionnaires , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Diagnosis , Health PromotionABSTRACT
The study of human-animal interactions has become a prominent research field. The presence of pets in our daily lives has meant a change in the perception of our relationship with pets. One of the new lines of research that has opened up in this area analyzes the possible physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of a human-animal bond. In this context, two main objectives were pursued in this study, whose sample (N = 1436) was investigated in Puerto Rico: (PO1) determining the characteristics of the owners and the care of the pets within Puerto Rican society and (PO2) to analyzing the benefits of living with pets for health and personal well-being, especially at the psychological level. We sought to identify the feelings that arose in pet caretakers as a result of human-animal interactions. The methodology used, which was descriptive and not experimental, was based on a questionnaire of 86 questions with a Likert scale. After the descriptive analysis was undertaken through a frequency analysis, a binary logistic regression was carried out to establish whether the feelings and emotions of the subjects toward their companion pets were determined by sociodemographic variables and were related to the type of coexistence with their pets. The two main results from this study are as follows: for most owners, their pets are very important beings, and those who establish an emotional connection with their pets experience love, joy, and peace. Pets are part of human life through very intense relationships and interactions that, in most cases, increase personal welfare by providing improvements to the human-animal biopsychosocial system. In this sense, a relationship with a pet has a positive impact on the mental health of the owner. Pets are a part of our family lives and are regulators of the most elementary feelings and emotions in humans.
ABSTRACT
El creciente interés profesional y la demanda por parte de la población fueron factores que contribuyeron a un gran avance en las intervenciones asistidas con animales (IACA) en los últimos años. Las intervenciones asistidas con perros y caballos son las más frecuentes en el mundo y en Argentina. Las publicaciones científicas en el tema han crecido recientemente, pero son aún escasas y muestran gran diversidad en los protocolos científicos o en los tratamientos de pacientes que les dieron origen. Se realizó una revisión y análisis sobre una pequeña muestra acerca del estado actual de las publicaciones científicas en IACA, con el objetivo de visualizar aspectos faltantes y contribuir en la búsqueda de una armonización de protocolos que permita realizar publicaciones de calidad, conjuntamente con un adecuado tratamiento a todos los pacientes. Se evidenció una gran escasez de publicaciones y falta de uniformidad en los protocolos con que fueron llevados a cabo los trabajos, además de un bajo nivel de financiamiento según información disponible en un motor de búsqueda perteneciente a los Institutos de Salud de los Estados Unidos.
Animal assisted interventions (AAI) have been highly developed during the past years, mostly due to professional interest but also according to an increasing demand of the population, the most frequent being those interventions carried out with dogs and horses, both in Argentina and abroad. The number of scientific publications on this issue has grown recently. However, it is still scarce and publications show a great variety in the protocols or in the treatments received by patients. The current status of scientific publications on AAI has been studied and both a short review and the analysis of a small sample of them have been performed. The purpose of the present work was to visualize missing aspects, to contribute to the harmonization of protocols and at the same time to give patients the most adequate treatments. A great shortage of publications as well as a lack of uniformity on the protocols used and a low level of funds achieved were found, according to information available on a search website belonging to the National Institutes of Health of the United States of America.
O crescente interesse profissional e a demanda da população foram fatores que contribuíram para um grande avanço nas intervenções assistidas com animais, (IACA), nos últimos anos. As intervenções com cães e cavalos são as mais comuns no mundo e na Argentina. Publicações científicas sobre o assunto cresceram recentemente, mas ainda são escassas e mostram grande diversidade nos protocolos científicos ou nos tratamentos de pacientes que lhes deram nascimento. Foi realizada a revisão e análise de uma amostra pequena, sobre o estado atual de publicações científicas em IACA, a fim de ver os aspectos ausentes e contribuir na busca de uma harmonização de protocolos, que permita executar publicações de qualidade, juntamente com um tratamento adequado a todos os pacientes. Evidenciamos uma grande escassez de publicações e falta de uniformidade nos protocolos com os quais foram realizados os trabalhos, além de um baixo nível de financiamento, de acordo com informações disponíveis em um motor de busca pertencente a Institutos de Saúde dos Estados Unidos.
ABSTRACT
Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is an approach recently introduced into the hospital environment to improve the quality of hospitalization and provide important benefits for patients with chronic diseases and long-term hospitalizations. This work aims to verify the effects of animal-assisted activity (AAA) on the expression and quality of self-reported pain in hospitalized children and adolescents, while considering the subjects' subjectivity. The participants were 17 hospitalized children/adolescents of both genders, aged 7 years and older, who complained of pain. Two therapy dogs were selected for the intervention according to the criteria of international protocols. The participants were asked an open question ("How would you describe your pain?"). After the question, an AAA session, which lasted between 5 and 10 min, was held with random activities spontaneously chosen by the subject. The open question was asked again at the end of the session, without the presence of the dog. Positive effects were observed in this population with regard to a decrease in self-reported pain. These results suggest that there is a possible symbolic elaboration of pain by the subject, in which the dog might represent acceptance and affection at a moment of great emotional suffering. (AU)