RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Canine-Assisted therapy and quality of life in people with Alzheimer-type dementia: pilot study
A1 Ladera, Valentina
A1 Sánchez Valdeón, Leticia
A1 Fernández Martínez, María Elena
A1 Loma Ramos, Sara
A1 López Alonso, Ana Isabel
A1 Bayón Darkistade, José Enrique
A2 Enfermeria
K1 Medicina. Salud
K1 Enfermedad de Alzheimer
K1 Calidad de vida
K1 Demencia
K1 Quality of Life
K1 Dementia
K1 Alzheimer’s disease
K1 Uso terapéutico
K1 Animales
K1 3212 Salud Publica
AB According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia affects approximately 47.5million people in the world, and 7.7 million new cases are diagnosed every year (World HealthOrganization, 2018). In the period 1990–2008, around 600,000 people in Spain were diagnosedwith dementia, of whom 400,000 were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (De Pedro-Cuesta et al.,2009), exerting a significant impact on families, costs, and health and welfare services.As indicated by the Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, theprevalence of dementia is an alarming problem throughout the world, and as a result, “we mustpay more attention to this growing challenge and ensure that all people living with dementia, whereverthey live, receive the care they need.” The goal of the Global Action Plan on the public health responseto dementia 2017–2025 (World Health Organization, 2018) is to improve the lives of people with dementia, their careers, and families, while decreasing the impactof dementia on communities and countries, which represents amajor challenge due to worldwide population aging.Alzheimer’s disease is defined clinically by causing dementiaand corresponds to 50–60% of all dementias, being the mostprevalent (Alameda et al., 2012; Claassen, 2015). No curativetreatment is currently available and the disease generates highhealthcare, social, and family costs (Leon-Salas and Martínez-Martín, 2010). Correct diagnosis permits identification of thetreatable causes of dementia, where these exist, or the possibilityof slowing the process in other cases (American PsichiatricAssociation, 2002; Costa and Castiñeira, 2016). It is essential toestablish a suitable therapeutic plan (pharmacological and nonpharmacological)in order to maintain independent functioningfor as long as possible and safeguard the quality of life of patients,their family members, and caregivers through participation andengagement in stimulation, help, and support activities (Flynnand Roach, 2014; Hu et al., 2018).Non-pharmacological approaches include therapy for patientsand their families, associations for patients’ relatives, day carecenters, and various economic subsidies, all aimed at providingcomprehensive care for patients while mitigating the physicaland psychological fatigue associated with caring for a personwith dementia (Patel et al., 2014; Casey et al., 2017). TomKitwood (Kitwood, 1997) developed the concept of “personcenteredcare for people with dementia” based on the idea thatbesides neurological damage, dementia treatment should alsotarget aspects such as the personality, history, health, and socialenvironment of each person. Studies conducted using this modelin patients with Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD) have foundthat it helps maintain quality of life for a longer period of time(Sjögren et al., 2012; Yakimicki et al., 2018).This approach includes animal-assisted therapy, defined as“an intervention in which an animal is incorporated as an integralpart of the treatment process, in order to promote an improvementin physical, psychosocial, and/or cognitive functioning of theperson treated” (Delta Society, 1992). Other studies have usedtechnological elements such as robots with an animal appearance,since some patients and workers may be scared of, allergic to, oraverse to animals, which would hinder implementation of suchtherapies (Valenti Soler et al., 2015; Moyle et al., 2016).The few studies that have used dogs with subjects withdementia have obtained positive results as regards qualityof life, finding an improvement in physical, behavioral, andpsychological symptoms (Sellers, 2005; Moretti et al., 2011;Nordgren and Engström, 2012, 2014; Olsen et al., 2016; Tournieret al., 2017). However, most studies in the literature reviewedwere conducted with patients with mild to moderate dementia,and there is little information available on patients withsevere dementia.In line with the person-centered care model, which valuesall people as individuals with a unique history, is committed topromoting their independence, and recognizes the influence oftheir social environment and the importance of support availableto them (McCormack, 2004; Nolan et al., 2004), the aim of thepresent study was to determine whether canine-assisted therapymaintained or changed the quality of life of people with severe ATD over time. And the hypothesis “The intervention programin Dogs Assisted Therapy (TAP), increases the quality of life ofpeople with dementia.”
PB Frontiers Media [Commercial Publisher]
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10612/13135
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10612/13135
NO 6 páginas
DS BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
RD 25-abr-2024