| dc.description.abstract | Background: Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is increasingly recognized as
beneficial in palliative care, aiming to enhance the well-being of terminally
ill patients. Palliative care focuses on holistic support for physical, emotional,
social, and spiritual needs. AAT uses animal interactions to alleviate symptoms
such as pain, anxiety, and depression, promoting social engagement and
emotional comfort. This review assesses AAT’s effectiveness in enhancing the
quality of life for palliative care recipients.
Aim: Synthesizing literature on AAT in palliative care, the review examines its
impact on physical symptoms, emotional well-being, social interactions,
and overall comfort. By analyzing diverse studies, it aims to elucidate AAT’s
therapeutic potential and identify research gaps.
Design: Scoping review.
Data sources: Searches in PubMed, ProQuest, Psychology Database, and
Scopus identified relevant studies evaluating AAT interventions in palliative care.
Data extraction focused on study characteristics, participant demographics, AAT
interventions, and reported outcomes.
Results: Studies consistently report positive outcomes of AAT in palliative care,
including reduced pain, anxiety, depression, and improved mood and wellbeing.
AAT also enhances social interactions and emotional support, albeit with
variations in study designs.
Conclusion: AAT holds promise for improving quality of life in palliative care
by addressing physical, emotional, and social needs. Future research should
standardize methodologies, explore mechanisms of action, and optimize AAT
integration into comprehensive palliative care strategies. | es |
