My assumptions on the use of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) in oncology patients was that it would help elevate mood and bring happiness in a rather dark time. I understand that this isn’t a curative measure for cancer, but it is important to put emphasis on mental health. After looking at research on this topic, my assumptions haven’t changed. There is evidence showing that AAI can significantly improve mood, depression, satisfaction with therapy, and even oxygen consumption. I know that when I see a dog it brightens my day and leaves me feeling happier, so I’m not at all surprised that they can do the same for oncology patients.
My group has found similar findings with their research and I believe we are all on the same page that AAI is a beneficial therapy that can use future research to support it even more. I also know that we would love to implement AAI into our future practices. We all have a love for dogs, which is how we came to the decision to research this topic. I think we can look into our future hospital policies and maybe find ways to implement therapy dogs to brighten the stays of out patients. If we can put a smile on someone’s face, we will do what we can to achieve that.
As I’ve stated before, my group and I work well together and the process has been going smoothly. We all have a ton on our plate and we’re trying to balance everything. We still manage to find time to hop on a zoom call all together and work on the paper. We find it best if we’re all working together at the same time. We can ask questions and discuss what we want to include, all while making sure it has a nice flow. I’m happy with the group I’m in and I’m proud of our work so far!
