The psychosocial effects of animal-assisted intervention for pediatric oncology patients and their parents: A multi-site, randomized controlled trial

Purpose Evidence concerning the psychosocial benefits of animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for families facing serious illness is limited, despite the prevalence of therapy dog programs in pediatric hospitals (Chubak & Hawkes, 2016). This presentation will describe a multi-site, randomized controlled trial aimed at measuring AAI’s effects on stress and anxiety among children newly diagnosed with cancer and their parents, as well as the children’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods IRB and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval was obtained and maintained from the host organization …