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Neuropediatrics 2020; 51(04): 267-274
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1708545
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Dog-Assisted Therapy in Neurorehabilitation of Children with Severe Neurological Impairment: An Explorative Study

Karin Hediger
1   Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2   REHAB Basel, Clinic for Neurorehabilitation and Paraplegiology, Basel, Switzerland
3   Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
,
Friederike Boek
1   Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Julia Sachers
1   Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Ulrike Blankenburg
4   Center für Pediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Epileptology, Schön Clinic, Vogatreuth, Germany
,
Evelyn Antonius-Kluger
4   Center für Pediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Epileptology, Schön Clinic, Vogatreuth, Germany
,
Bettina Rist
4   Center für Pediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Epileptology, Schön Clinic, Vogatreuth, Germany
,
Martina Schaudek
4   Center für Pediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Epileptology, Schön Clinic, Vogatreuth, Germany
,
Martin Staudt
4   Center für Pediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Epileptology, Schön Clinic, Vogatreuth, Germany
5   Department Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
,
Gerhard Kluger
4   Center für Pediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Epileptology, Schön Clinic, Vogatreuth, Germany
6   Research Institute “Rehabilitation, Transition, Palliation”, Paracelsus Medicine University, Salzburg, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Funding K.H. currently receives an Ambizione grant (Nr. PZ00P1_174082/1) from the Swiss National Science Foundation and funding from the Förderverein pro REHAB Basel, Switzerland. This work and the DAT itself was further supported by the society Silberstreifen e.V., Germany.
Further Information

Publication History

12 November 2019

16 February 2020

Publication Date:
16 March 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Background Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) is increasingly applied in neurorehabilitation of patients with severe neurological impairments. To date, there are only anecdotal reports investigating its effects.

Objectives This study was aimed to evaluate the potential of DAT in pediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation for severely neurologically impaired children and adolescents, to identify characteristics of patients receiving this therapy, characteristics of the therapy sessions, and to evaluate feasibility and extent of goal achievement.

Methods We retrospectively analyzed 850 DAT sessions performed between 2010 and 2017 at an inpatient neurorehabilitation center. The dataset included 196 children and adolescents (Md = 5.50, 0.58–20.33 years) suffering from severe neurological impairments (disorders of consciousness in 37 patients) of various etiologies. We extracted information regarding patient and session characteristics, analyzed the predefined goals with content analysis, and examined to what extent the goals were met during DAT. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results Patients received an average of 4.34 therapy sessions. A total of 247 of 392 predefined goals (63%) were reached during DAT. The most frequently achieved goal was “enhancing fun” (83%), followed by “establishing contact and communication” (81%), and “relaxation” (71%). Only one critical incident regarding the dogs' safety occurred.

Conclusion DAT is a feasible approach and appears to facilitate emotional, social, and psychological goals in children and adolescents with severe neurological impairment.

Keywords

animal-assisted therapy - dog-assisted therapy - neurorehabilitation - child - dog

Supplementary Material