Abstract
Aims
Animal-assisted therapy has gained increased attention in occupational therapy. Yet there remains minimal education opportunities available. In addition to supporting student learning, student-led clinics have the potential to provide a valuable, cost-effective health service to the community. This study aimed to explore the potential benefits to the children clients participating in a student-led, canine-assisted occupational therapy pediatric clinic from the perspectives of the students and parents.
Method
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine occupational therapy students, and five parents to describe their experience. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results
Participants emphasized how the presence of the therapy dog supported child engagement within the therapy session. Ways in which participants believed the therapy dog influenced the children’s engagement were described within three themes. The first highlighted the importance of the relationship between the children and the therapy dog. The second described how this relationship facilitated a sense of safety within the sessions. The third captured how this sense of safety supported the children’s participation within their meaningful occupations.
Conclusions
Parents and students involved in the canine-assisted occupational therapy clinic perceived that canine-assisted therapy was supportive of child engagement in therapy.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the students and parents for their involvement in the canine-assisted therapy clinic and the interviews, as well as the child clients.
Authors Contribution
The authors acknowledge that each author has read and approved the contents of this article.
Disclosure Statement
All authors declare no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill is a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland. She has nine years clinical and five years research experience in the field of animal-assisted therapy, publishing eight peer reviewed journal articles and contributing to two book chapters in the space.
Sophie Mensforth
Sophie Mensforth is a research student completing her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at The University of Queensland.
Lucy Waldby
Lucy Waldby is a Clinical Educator in Occupational Therapy at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland. Clinically, she has worked with a wide range of pediatric populations.
Jennifer Fleming
Jennifer Fleming is Professor of Occupational Therapy, and the Head of Discipline, in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland.
Teresa Quinlan
Teresa Quinlan is an Occupational Therapist and Clinic Manager of the Life Skills Clinic, and student-led clinic run through the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland.
Carlie Driscoll
Carlie Driscoll is Associate Professor of Audiology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland. She has edited one book and multiple peer reviewed journal articles in the field of animal-assisted therapy.