Date of Graduation
12-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Nursing
Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Allison Scott
Committee Member
Dr. Michele Kilmer
Abstract
The purpose of this systematic review of literature was to establish if animal assisted therapy (AAT) is helpful in the reduction of stress for patients on pediatric inpatient floors. The PICOT question that led this review was: In pediatric patients, how does animal assisted therapy affect patient outcomes related to increased hospitalizations? The EBSCOhost database, as well as the Web of Science and CINAHL Complete information sources, were used to find relevant studies for this review that assessed the benefits and contraindications for AAT. Key terms such as “animal assisted therapy,” “pediatrics,” and “inpatient” were used to narrow down the gathered results. Additionally, all results were required to meet the requirements of in English, peer reviewed, and published within 2019-2025. This review includes 12 articles that fit the criteria. Benefits to AAT, as evidenced by the chosen studies, include decreasing pain and anxiety, promoting an involvement in one’s care, an increased response to other forms of therapy, and better behavior from the patients. These results are evident across different units related to care of the pediatric population. Involving therapeutic animals in patient care increases normalcy and creates distraction from pain and interventions for these chronic patients. Though this review highlights the effectiveness of AAT, there is a lack of research in this area because it is an up-and-coming way of providing care. Long term effects, such as potential contamination and exposure, are not yet available, creating a gap in the research. Despite this drawback, it is apparent that animal assisted therapy supports pediatric populations while in the inpatient setting, increasing health outcomes and quality of life for these patients.
Keywords
pediatric; animal assisted therapy; inpatient
Citation
Shiflett, L. M. (2025). Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy in Pediatric Inpatient Units: A Literature Review. The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/nursuht/221
