I Sverige är demens den fjärde största sjukdomen och i världen förväntas nästan en fördubbling av incidensen ske till år 2030. Det är därför viktigt att finna alter-nativa, kostnadseffektiva behandlingsformer som är effektiva på denna specifika grupp. Syftet med studien var att undersöka djurs hälsofrämjande effekter i vården av individer med diagnosen Alzheimers eller annan demenssjukdom. En litteratur-studie gjordes där tio artiklar redovisas i resultatet. Djur inom Alzheimers- och demensvården visar på positiva effekter i form av minskad agitation och oro, ökad verbal förmåga, ökad kroppskontakt och kontaktsökande samt förbättrad nutrition hos dessa individer. Slutsatsen är att djur kan vara ett effektivt komplement i om-vårdnaden av individer med Alzheimers eller annan demenssjukdom. / In Sweden dementia is the fourth most common disease and in the world the numbers are expected to be twice as high in the year of 2030. Therefore it is im-portant to find alternative, cost-effective forms of treatments that are effective on this specific group. The aim of the study was to examine the health effects of ani-mals in the care of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other re-lated diseases. A literature review including ten articles in the result was made. Animals in Alzheimer’s and dementia care indicate positive effects such as de-creased agitation and anxiety, increased verbalizations, increase in tactile contact and seeking for contact and improved nutrition among these individuals. The con-clusion is that animals can serve as an effective complement in the care of indi-viduals with Alzheimer’s disease or other related diseases.

This investigation studied the impact of registered therapy dogs assigned to students in order to improve reading skills. The purpose of this study was to determine if children assigned to registered therapy dogs improve significantly in reading achievement and related school performance such as attendance and discipline when compared to students of similar characteristics not assigned to registered therapy dogs. Specifically, the study used data to ascertain whether students assigned to registered therapy dogs improved their reading skills and if these students demonstrated more or less growth than students of similar characteristics not assigned to registered therapy dogs. This study analyzed data from the Canine Assisted Reading Education (C.A.R.E. to Read) program, data collected from the teacher responses to the C.A.R.E. to Read Teacher Questionnaire, and data provided by Brevard Public School District. Repeated measures analyses and descriptive statistics clearly revealed that students assigned to registered therapy dogs demonstrated more reading growth than their peers who were not assigned to registered therapy dogs. Additionally, students assigned to the registered therapy dogs had a more positive attitude toward schoolwork, were more willing to participate in classroom activities, were more successful with higher level thinking skills, and were more self-confident after being assigned to the registered therapy dogs. Recommendations were made to address teacher training concerning classroom environment, higher level thinking skills, and identifying hesitant and resistant learners. Recommendations also were made for additional research on other uses for registered therapy dogs in the educational setting.

Background: Animal Assisted Therapy has increased within occupational therapy.Occupational threapists may use animals within the profession, but the description of how these occupational therapy interventions are conducted is missing.Aim:This scoping study explored how canine assisted occupational therapy is described and conducted. Material and methods: A scoping review method was applied to explore, summarize and describe canine-assisted octupational therapy practice. Six databases and manual search of identified literature utilized search terms focusing on Animal Assisted Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify emergent themes. Results: From 148 pappers, after duplicates removed, only four papers, representing two studies, met full inclusion/exclusion criteria, which focuced solely on autistic children. Two themes emerged: social interaction with a therapy dog, and description of activities, skills and goals in canine- assisted interventions. The second theme consisted of subthemes: social interaction and motor skills practice and practicing activities of daily living with therapy dog. Conclusion: Therapy dogs were described as acting agents to facilitate participant engagement and participating as a third member in the therapeutic process. Further research is needed to consider the extent to which CA-OT contributes to clientsachieving their therapeutic goals. Significance: This study highlights how canine- assisted therapy is described and used in occupational therapy.

Bakgrund: Hundar inom vården har använts under lång tid då de ansetts ha en positiv påverkan på människan. Demens är en sjukdom som väntas öka när allt fler människor lever till en högre ålder. Personer som lever med en demenssjukdom har ökad risk att drabbas av Beteendemässiga och Psykiska Symtom vid Demens (BPSD) som exempelvis depression, ångest och aggressivitet. Detta kan leda till att personer som lever med en demenssjukdom kan få en minskad livskvalitet. Därför är det betydelsefullt att hitta icke farmakologisk behandling som kan öka livskvaliteten hos dessa individer. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att utforska vårdhundens påverkan på livskvaliteten för personer som lever med demenssjukdom och/eller kognitiv svikt.   Metod: En litteraturstudie av 12 kvantitativa originalartiklar från databasen PubMed.   Resultat: Tre grupper identifierades: ökning av positiva känslor, minskning av negativa känslor och sociala effekter. I resultatet framgick att efter intervention med vårdhundar minskade negativa känslor som exempelvis depression, ångest och ensamhet hos deltagarna. De fick istället en ökning av nöje, njutning och kognition samt en förbättring av både balans och gång. Något annat som ökade var kommunikationen hos deltagarna och deltagandet i sociala interaktioner. Det framgick även att i studierna som mätte livskvaliteten hos deltagarna att livskvaliteten ökade hos de flesta deltagarna efter kontakten med vårdhundarna.    Slutsats: Närvaron av vårdhundar har en positiv inverkan på personer med demens och/eller kognitiv svikt. Det behövs mer forskning på området men resultaten indikerar att vårdhundar kan ha en positiv effekt för individen.

Bakgrund: Djurintervention är ett samlingsbegrepp för när djur används i människans tjänst. Kognitiv sjukdom är en irreversibel progressiv sjukdom. Förlusten av förmågor och självständighet, orsakar lidande för personen med kognitiv sjukdom vilket skapar ett stort behov av icke-farmakologiska behandlingsalternativ. Teoretiska ramen för aktuell litteraturöversikt är Erikssons perspektiv på vårdande.  Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka effekter av djurintervention som hälsofrämjande åtgärd för personer med kognitiv sjukdom. Metod: Studien har en deskriptiv design med kvantitativ induktiv ansats och gjorts i form av allmän litteraturöversikt. Litteratursökning genomfördes i PubMed och CINAHL. Kvalitetsgranskning utfördes utifrån granskningsmallar av Forsberg och Wengström.  Resultat: Totalt 22 artiklar inkluderades i den allmänna litteraturöversikten. Signifikant effekt av djurintervention på BPSD påvisades i 3/6 studier och i de som undersökte effekterna på agitation påvisades signifikant effekt i 2/5 studier. Det var 7/12 studier som påvisade signifikant effekt över minskade depressiva symtom. Gällande fysiska förmågor var det 2/2 studier som visade signifikant effekt avseende balans, 1/2 på fysiska aktivitet och 0/1 på gångförmåga samt 2/5 studier som påvisade signifikant effekt på ADL. Signifikant effekt avseende livskvalité påvisades i 5/7 studier. Inom engagemang och kommunikation var det 2/3 studier som påvisade signifikant effekt.  Slutsats: Djurintervention som hälsofrämjande åtgärd för personer med kognitiv sjukdom visade sig utifrån de 22 studieartiklarna ha bäst effekt avseende livskvalité, fysiska förmågor avseende balans, depressiva symptom samt engagemang och kommunikation. Inom resterande områden var resultatet varierat. Således behövs vidare forskning för att belägga signifikanta orsakssamband. / Background: Animal-assisted intervention is a collective term for when animals are used for the benefit of humans. Dementia is an irreversible progressive disease. The loss of abilities and independence causes suffering for the persons with cognitive disease which creates a great need for non-pharmacological therapy alternatives. The theoretical model for the current general review is Eriksson’s perspective on caring.Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the health promotion effects of animal assisted intervention on people with dementia.Method: The study has a descriptive design with a quantitative inductive approach and is made in the form of a general review. The search for literature was done in PubMed and CINAHL. The quality was reviewed by using the checklist from Forsberg and Wengström. Result: A total of 22 articles were included in this general review. Significant effect of animal intervention on BPSD was demonstrated in 3/6 studies and in those examining effects of agitation 2/5 studies could show significant effects. There were 7/12 studies that demonstrated a significant effect on reduced depressive symptoms. Regarding physical abilities, there were 2/2 studies that showed a significant effect regarding balance, 1/2 on physical activity and 0/1 on walking ability, and 2/5 studies that showed a significant effect on ADL. Significant effect regarding quality of life was demonstrated in 5/7 studies. Within commitment and communication, 2/3 of the studies demonstrated a significant effect. Conclusion: Based on the 22 study articles, animal intervention as a health-promotion for people with dementia was shown to have the best effect regarding quality of life, physical abilities regarding balance, depressive symptoms as well as commitment and communication. In the remaining areas, the results were varied. Thus, further research is needed to prove significant causal relationships.

Bakgrund: Redan på 1790-talet visades positiva interaktioner med djur ge fördelar för människor. Djur har funnits vid människans sida sedan tusen år tillbaka och under de senaste 50 åren har implementeringen av djurassisterad terapi ökat. Omvårdnadsgrundaren Florence Nightingale talade tidigt om vikten av djurens närvaro inom vården för att underlätta behandlingsprocessen. Tidigare studier indikerar att vidare forskning behövs gällande undersökning av effekterna som djurassisterad terapi har på människans hälsa och välbefinnande.Syfte: Syftet med studien var att beskriva och sammanställa patienters mätbara och erfarna effekt på välbefinnande av djurassisterad terapi inom barnsjukvård.  Metod: En beskrivande litteraturstudie sammanställd från 11 vetenskapliga artiklar. Sju kvantitativa, två mixade och två kvalitativa artiklar.  Huvudresultat: Hundassisterad terapi ökade välbefinnande och påverkade barnens sjukhusvistelse positivt. Terapihundbesöken minskade barnens stress, ångest, irritation, depression och smärta. Barnens känslohantering underlättades och kommunikation samt social interaktion förbättrades av terapiformen enligt föräldrar och vårdpersonal.  Slutsats: Barn uppvisade uppmätta psykologiska, fysiologiska och sociala effekter av hundassisterad terapi som ökade deras välbefinnande samt påverkade deras sjukhusvistelse positivt. Erfarenheter visar att terapiformen uppskattas av både barn, föräldrar och vårdpersonal. Barnet fokuserade och distraherades av terapihunden vilket underlättade behandlingar och minskade komplikationer. Resultatet visar att hundterapi är en gynnsam terapimetod. / Background: As early as the 1790s, positive interactions with animals were shown to bring benefits to humans. Animals have been by man's side for thousands of years, and in the last 50 years, the implementation of animal-assisted therapy has increased. Nursing founder Florence Nightingale spoke early on about the importance of the presence of animals in nursing to facilitate the treatment process. Previous studies indicate that further research is needed regarding the investigation of the effects that animal-assisted therapy has on human health and well-being.Aim: The aim of the study was to describe and compile patients measurable and experienced effect on well-being of animal-assisted therapy in pediatric healthcare.  Methods: A descriptive literature study compiled from 11 scientific articles. Seven quantitative articles, two mixed-methods and two qualitative methods.  Main results: Dog-assisted therapy increased well-being and positively affected the children's hospital stay. The therapy dog ​​visits reduced the children's stress, anxiety, irritation, depression and pain. The children's emotional management was facilitated and communication and social interaction were improved by the form of therapy, according to parents and healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Children showed measured psychological, physiological and social effects of dog-assisted therapy that increased their well-being and positively affected their hospital stay. Experience shows that the form of therapy is appreciated by both children, parents and healthcare professionals. The child was focused and distracted by the therapy dog, which facilitated treatments and reduced complications. The results show that dog-therapy is a beneficial therapy method.

No description available.

Syfte: Att sammanställa forskning som beskriver erfarenheter av vårdhundar för att främja aktivitet och delaktighet hos personer med funktionsnedsättning. Metod: Nio artiklar inkluderades varav sju var kvalitativa samt två var av mixad metod där de kvalitativa resultaten inkluderades i översikten. Sökningarna genomfördes via databaserna CINAHL och PubMed. Samtliga artiklar som uppfyllde inklusionskriterierna medtogs vidare till analysen handlade om barn med funktionsnedsättning. Under analysen identifierades likheter och skillnader vad gäller artiklarnas metodologiska tillvägagångssätt, analysgång, syften samt resultat. Utifrån analysen identifierades tre kategorier. Resultat: Kategorin Vårdhunden främjar meningsskapande aktiviteter visade att barnen upplevdes som lugnare i vårdhundens närvaro samt att vårdhunden skapade meningsfulla aktiviteter. Kategorin Främjandet av aktiviteter i trygga miljöer beskriver att hunden kan bidra till ett icke-dömande klimat där barnen kan utföra aktiviteter. Kategorin Vårdhunden möjliggör delaktighet i aktivitet samt i den sociala miljön visade att barnens sociala delaktighet upplevdes öka, vilket visades genom att hunden underlättade relationsbyggandet mellan barnet och andra personer. Slutsats: Att använda vårdhundar inom arbetsterapi har potential att främja aktivitet och delaktighet för barn med funktionsnedsättning. / Purpose: To create an overview of the research that describes the experiences of service dogs to promote activity and participation for people with disabilities. Method: Nine articles were included, of which seven were qualitative and two were mixed method studies with the qualitative results included in this overview. The searches were made through the databases CINAHL and PubMed. All articles that met the criterias were about children with disabilities. During the analysis, similarities and differences were identified in terms of the articles’ methodological approach, analysis process, aims and results. Based on the analysis, three categories were identified. Result: The category The service dogs promotes meaningful activities showed that children were perceived as calmer in the dogś presence and created meaning fulactivities. The category Promotion of activities in safe environments describes that the dog can contribute to a non-judgmental climate where the children can perform activities. The category Service dog enable participation in activity as well as in the social environment showed that the children’s social participation was perceived to increase, which was shown by the fact that the dog facilitated the building of relationships between the child and other people. Conclusion: Using service dogs in occupational therapy has the potential to promote activity and participation for children with disabilities.

Background: The effect of animal-assisted activities (AAA) on the animal participants has been minimally investigated and the welfare of these animals has been questioned. Cortisol, in conjunction with stress-associated behavior, has been utilized as an objective assessment of animal welfare. Objective: Salivary cortisol and behavior in AAA dogs were measured to test the null hypothesis that salivary cortisol concentration and behavior are not different in an AAA environment compared to home or neutral environments.  Hair cortisol was measured in AAA dogs to test the null hypothesis that there is no relationship between hair cortisol and salivary cortisol. Methods:  Fifteen healthy adult dogs registered with an AAA organization were recruited.  A hair sample was collected from each dog upon enrollment.  Saliva samples were collected from each dog every 30 minutes, starting 30 minutes prior to and 30 minutes after a standardized 60 minute session across 3 settings: an AAA session (AS) for college students in the communal area of a residence hall; a neutral session (NS) located in a novel room without interaction with a stranger; and a home session (HS).  Each session was videotaped continuously and behaviors were coded at three separate 5-minute intervals while the dog was petted by a stranger in the AS or handler in the NS and HS. Results:  Salivary cortisol levels were not different in the AS compared to HS, but were significantly higher in the NS compared to AS and HS.  Dogs exhibited significantly more standing and ambulating behavior in the AS compared to HS.  Salivary cortisol level was negatively correlated with panting and standing at specific time points in the NS and AS, respectively.  Hair cortisol level did not correlate with salivary cortisol level at any time point in any of the settings. Conclusions:  During a 60 minute AAA session, salivary cortisol concentration and stress-associated behavior were not different compared to when dogs spent the same amount of time in the home setting, suggesting that they were not stressed when being used as AAA animals. The physical environment may be an important consideration when evaluating the effect of AAA on dogs.  Hair cortisol did not correlate with salivary cortisol, suggesting that hair may not be a representative predictor of cortisol in these environments.  Additional investigation is required to support cortisol and behavior as measures of stress and welfare in AAA animals. / Master of Science

Bakgrund Djurunderstödda interventioner är ett paraplybegrepp där bland annat djurunderstödda aktiviteter och djurunderstödd terapi ingår med syftet att på ett eller annat sätt förbättra en människas hälsa. Individer med diagnosen autism kan ha svårt att exempelvis socialt interagera med andra människor. Dessa svårigheter ger ofta sekundära hälsoproblem som exempelvis depression. Den aktuella behandlingen för diagnosen autism är symtomatisk, då det inte finns någon farmakologisk behandling mot diagnosen. Sjuksköterskan kan vara drivande i de insatser som kan främja en patients hälsa, därför behöver sjuksköterskan veta vilka insatser som är betydelsefulla för just denne individs situation. Syfte Syftet var att beskriva effekter av djurunderstödda interventioner för vuxna individer med den neuropsykiatriska diagnosen autism. Metod En litteraturöversikt med tio vetenskapliga artiklar hämtades från databaserna PubMed, CINAHL Complete och PsycINFO. Artiklarna analyserades enligt Fribergs analysmodell. Resultat Analysen av resultatet ledde till tre huvudteman med åtta tillhörande underteman: 1) Sociala effekter: Mindre ensamhet- en social kontakt utan mänsklig närvaro Kommunikationsförmåga- med andra individer Djuret som samtalsämne- ett socialt smörjmedel Sociala aktiviteter - en bro till samhället 2) Psykologiska effekter: Meningsskapande och ökat välbefinnande Ansvar och en känsla av självständighet 3) Fysiska effekter: Motion Taktil stimulans Slutsats Litteraturöversiktens slutsats är att individer med en autismdiagnos kan få positiva psykologiska-, fysiska- och sociala hälsoeffekter av djurunderstödda interventioner. Detta forskningsområde är relativt nytt och vår förhoppning är att litteraturöversiktens resultat ska kunna öka allmänsjuksköterskans kunskap. En hög kunskapskompetens kan bidra till en bättre vård med fler icke-farmakologiska behandlingsmöjligheter för individer med en autismdiagnos. Nyckelord Djurunderstödda interventioner, autism, effekter, vuxna / Background Animal assisted intervention is an umbrella-term that includes both animal assisted activities and animal assisted therapy with the aim of improving a person's health in one way or another. Individuals diagnosed with autism may have difficulty socializing with other people. These difficulties often give secondary health problems such as depression. The current treatment for the diagnosis of autism becomes symptomatic, since there is no pharmacological treatment against the diagnosis. The nurse can be a driving force in the efforts that can promote a patient's health, therefore, the nurse needs to know which interventions are important for this particular individual's situation. Aim The aim was to describe the effects of animal assisted interventions for adult individuals with the neuropsychiatric diagnosis of Autism. Method A literature review with ten articles was retrieved from the databases PubMed, CINAHL Complete and PsycINFO. The articles were analyzed according to Friberg's analysis model. Results The analysis of the results led to three main themes with eight associated subthemes: 1) Social effects: Less loneliness- a social contact without human presence Communication skills- with other individuals The animal as a conversation topic- a social lubricant Social activities - a bridge to the society 2) Psychological effects: Meaning of fulfillment and increased well-being Responsibility and a sense of independence 3) Physical effects: Exercise Tactile stimulation Conclusions The conclusion of the literature review is that individuals with an autism diagnosis can get positive psychological, physical and social health effects from animal-assisted interventions. This research area is relatively new and our hope is that the results of the literature review will be able to increase the general nurse's knowledge. A high level of competence can contribute to better care with more non-pharmacological treatment options for the individual with an autism diagnosis. Keywords Animal assisted intervention, autism, effects, adult