Implementation of a Replicable Animal-Assisted Intervention Protocol in Pediatric Oncology Settings

In the past 20 years, childhood cancer rates have increased slightly, but advances in treatment options have led to greater survivorship for nearly all forms of childhood cancers. These improved survival rates have brought forth a plethora of new challenges for both children and families as they undergo cancer treatment, often a long-term process. . In an effort to address these complex medical, behavioral and psychosocial issues, American Humane Association has partnered with three children's hospitals across the country to implement a complementary health practice in the form of a replicable animal-assisted therapy intervention. Study protocol utilizes a randomized control trial design to provide valuable information to the growing evidence-base in the field of animal-assisted interventions. This session will describe the animal-assisted intervention protocol that was developed, as well as a pilot test in the study settings. Preliminary findings from the project will be shared throughout this session to help participants understand how the protocol was developed, the implementation challenges of this replicable animal-assisted intervention and how the research protocol will help to understand how the intervention affects the health and wellness of children with cancer and their families.