Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Impact Of Equine Interaction During Psychotherapy On Anxiety And Depression For Residential Treatment Program Patients Experiencing Substance Withdrawal, Molly M. Friend, Molly C. Nicodemus, Clay Cavinder, Caleb Lemley, Pauline Prince, Katherine A. Cagle-Holtcamp, Rebecca M. Swanson

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

As incidences of substance use disorders (SUD) increase in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for more effective treatment approaches. Further, treatment approaches currently available struggle to retain patients during the period of substance withdrawal in early treatment due to patients’ withdrawal symptoms including increased feelings of anxiety and depression. Withdrawal symptoms have been linked to dysregulated cortisol concentrations present in this period. Psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction (PIE) has emerged in other populations as a treatment that decreases cortisol concentrations and improves treatment retention. The present study investigated the impact of 4 weeks of PIE on …

Effects Of Equine Interaction On Mutual Autonomic Nervous System Responses And Interoception In A Learning Program For Older Adults, Ann L. Baldwin, Lisa Walters, Barbara K. Rector, Ann C. Alden

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Equine-assisted learning (EAL) may improve the health of older adults, but scientific data are sparse. This study investigated whether people aged 55 and older show increased heart rate variability (HRV) during EAL and awareness of bodily sensations that are overall pleasant. Subjects (n = 24) participated in mindful grooming during which they slowed their breathing and brushed a horse while noticing sensations in their body and watching the horse’s reactions. The subject’s and horse’s HRV were recorded simultaneously before, during, and after mindful grooming. For control, the same subjects performed mindful grooming with a plush simulation horse. During exit …

Stakeholders’ Perspectives On The Safety Of An Adaptive Riding Program For Adults Living With Dementia And Care Partners, Alicia A. Oestreich, Beth E. Fields

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

The purpose of this qualitative community-based participatory research was to explore the safety perspectives of stakeholders involved in an adaptive horseback riding program designed to enhance the quality of life of adults living with dementia and their care partners. Human–animal interactions are becoming increasingly popular therapeutic interventions; however, there is still a lack of understanding about the safety considerations for providing adults living with dementia opportunities to interact with horses and the equine environment. To advance our understanding, researchers analyzed 10 semistructured interviews and two focus groups with therapeutic riding program instructors and staff, aging network specialists, and care partners …

Perceptions And Practices Of Key Worker Stakeholder Groups In Hospital Animal- Assisted Intervention Programs On Occupational Benefits And Perceived Risks, Kathryn R. Dalton, William Altekruse, Peter Campbell, Kathy Ruble, Karen C. Carroll, Roland J. Thorpe Jr., Jacqueline Agnew, Meghan F. Davis

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) programs, used widely for patient benefit, have increasingly been used for healthcare workers (HCW) to reduce occupational stress. However, there are barriers to these programs which limit their utilization, for both patients and HCW, specifically infectious disease concerns. The aim of the research project is to identify barriers and facilitators to AAI program use for healthcare worker benefit, and determine knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding infectious disease risk and control policies, in order to understand the contextual parameters of program implementation.

Methods: We collected perceptions of key stakeholders involved with hospital AAI programs (HCW and AAI …

Considerations For Recommending Service Dogs Versus Emotional Support Animals For Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Macy Porter, Melissa Y. Winkle, Ellen Herlache-Pretzer

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: Health care providers must understand factors that may guide the decision-making process for determining whether a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is appropriate for a service dog (SD) versus an emotional support animal (ESA), and assist SD training organizations in determining trained tasks that are suitable for the veteran’s needs.

Purpose: This study explored the perspectives of SD training organizations and factors for human health care providers to consider before recommending a veteran with PTSD for a SD versus an ESA. The researchers identified information that providers should give organizations to guide the SD training and placement process. …

Are Nurses Joining The Ride? Equine-Assisted Activities And Therapies Review, Khalid Bandar Almasloukh, Pamela Stewart Fahs

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) is a rapidly growing practice that is described as therapeutic and entertaining. Complementary therapies such as EAAT are gaining acceptance as the health care needs of the population are changing.

Method: This systematic review draws from four databases. The final review included 52 articles.

Purpose: To explain what is known about EAAT and identify literature gaps. Nursing and rural perspectives are included in the analysis and recommendations.

Findings: There are more than eight types of EAAT and different organizations around the world are providing certification for EAAT. Rural communities and organizations may benefit from …

Singing Through Change: A Community Engagement Project For Women In Recovery Performing With The Purdue Fort Wayne Choral Union Choir, Madison Boyden

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Hope & Harriet is an intensive residential treatment program in a subacute medical facility for women 18 years and older that specializes in the pursuit of recovery from chemical dependency. PFW music therapy students have been given the unique opportunity to work with the women as part of their music therapy clinical practicum experiences. The author's final music therapy practicum, in partial fulfillment of her bachelor’s degree in music therapy, began her path forward into this project.

Finding Harmony In Health For Treating Addiction: Support For Women In Recovery Through Music Therapy, Molly Rea

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Molly Rea is a senior music therapy student at Purdue University who is minoring in psychology and holds an Associate of Science in Liberal Arts degree from Ivy Tech Community College. She has gained clinical experience over the past three years by bringing music therapy to individual, nursing home, hospital, and group rehabilitation settings. She aspires to open and manage an integrative holistic healthcare clinic to address needs of individuals living in disadvantaged communities where mental health resources are scarce. Her passion lies in mental health awareness and she hopes to address conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and suicide …

Shanghai, China: “Nontraditional” Traditional Chinese Medicine, Joshua Martin

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Joshua Martin is a second-year PharmD student in the Purdue University College of Pharmacy. Within the College of Pharmacy, he is the president-elect of the Industry Pharmacist Organization (IPhO), is on the Orientation Steering Committee for newly admitted PharmD students, and preforms nanoparticle research within the Industrial and Physical Pharmacy sector of the College. He hopes to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry where he can positively impact patients on a global scale. Josh comes from a family of Boilermakers and avidly supports the Black and Gold. In this article, he describes his experience studying at Shanghai University of …

The Italian Agreement Between The Government And The Regional Authorities: National Guidelines For Aai And Institutional Context, Martina Simonato, Marta De Santis, Laura Contalbrigo, Daniele Benedetti, Elisabetta Finocchi Mahne, Vincenzo Ugo Santucci, Silvio Borrello, Luca Farina

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have developed considerably in the last half century, prompting various private and public realities dealing with AAI worldwide to work on and establish standards and best practice. However, AAI are still far from being regulated harmoniously. In this context, Italy offers a unique example at world level: here the spread of AAI has set in motion an ethical and legal reflection that led to the creation of the Italian National Reference Centre for AAI (NRC AAI) by ministerial decree in 2009 and the approval of National Guidelines for AAI in 2015. The Italian legislation on AAI is …