Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot Study
BackgroundWith the aim of improving the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s disease, primarily as regards behavioral and psychological symptoms, we implemented canine-assisted therapy in a group of people with this disease.MethodsWe conducted a quasi-experimental study, with a simple pre-post...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01332/full |
| _version_ | 1818144015736897536 |
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| author | Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón Elena Fernández-Martínez Sara Loma-Ramos Ana Isabel López-Alonso Enrique Bayón Darkistade Valentina Ladera |
| author_facet | Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón Elena Fernández-Martínez Sara Loma-Ramos Ana Isabel López-Alonso Enrique Bayón Darkistade Valentina Ladera |
| author_sort | Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundWith the aim of improving the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s disease, primarily as regards behavioral and psychological symptoms, we implemented canine-assisted therapy in a group of people with this disease.MethodsWe conducted a quasi-experimental study, with a simple pre-post case series design. Participants comprised 10 Alzheimer’s day care center users presenting severe or very severe cognitive decline. The measurement instrument employed was the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) scale.ResultsBy the end of the therapy, 100% of participants showed an improvement in physical, behavioral, and psychological aspects. The total scores of the QUALID scale for the three different evaluation times (before the therapy and 6 and 12 months after starting) after the canine-assisted therapy intervention were smaller and less dispersed. The total score for the QUALID scale decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at 6 and 12 months after starting therapy. An analysis by item revealed that the scores of all of them fell during the course of the therapy.DiscussionOur study provides evidence of the significant benefits of canine-assisted therapy for quality of life in people with Alzheimer’s disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:40:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3952a3525a234884b9c0b7ce3b67c9a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:40:51Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3952a3525a234884b9c0b7ce3b67c9a52022-12-22T01:08:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782019-06-011010.3389/fpsyg.2019.01332456295Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot StudyLeticia Sánchez-Valdeón0Elena Fernández-Martínez1Sara Loma-Ramos2Ana Isabel López-Alonso3Enrique Bayón Darkistade4Valentina Ladera5SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of León, León, SpainSALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of León, León, SpainDepartment of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of León, León, SpainDepartment of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of León, León, SpainSALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of León, León, SpainFaculty of Psychology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, SpainBackgroundWith the aim of improving the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s disease, primarily as regards behavioral and psychological symptoms, we implemented canine-assisted therapy in a group of people with this disease.MethodsWe conducted a quasi-experimental study, with a simple pre-post case series design. Participants comprised 10 Alzheimer’s day care center users presenting severe or very severe cognitive decline. The measurement instrument employed was the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) scale.ResultsBy the end of the therapy, 100% of participants showed an improvement in physical, behavioral, and psychological aspects. The total scores of the QUALID scale for the three different evaluation times (before the therapy and 6 and 12 months after starting) after the canine-assisted therapy intervention were smaller and less dispersed. The total score for the QUALID scale decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at 6 and 12 months after starting therapy. An analysis by item revealed that the scores of all of them fell during the course of the therapy.DiscussionOur study provides evidence of the significant benefits of canine-assisted therapy for quality of life in people with Alzheimer’s disease.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01332/fullquality of lifebenefitsAlzheimer’scanine-assisted therapysevere cognitive declineperson-centered care |
| spellingShingle | Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón Elena Fernández-Martínez Sara Loma-Ramos Ana Isabel López-Alonso Enrique Bayón Darkistade Valentina Ladera Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot Study Frontiers in Psychology quality of life benefits Alzheimer’s canine-assisted therapy severe cognitive decline person-centered care |
| title | Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot Study |
| title_full | Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot Study |
| title_short | Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot Study |
| title_sort | canine assisted therapy and quality of life in people with alzheimer type dementia pilot study |
| topic | quality of life benefits Alzheimer’s canine-assisted therapy severe cognitive decline person-centered care |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01332/full |
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