Researching Holistic Medicine (Pet Therapy)

as a Treatment Alternative

Jessica JacksonEast Tennessee State University

INTRODUCTION

Bailey’s workbook states that there are many reasons for conducting research, one of the reasons being to merely search “in an organized manner for relationships between characteristics or entities” (Bailey, xxi). That is the primary reason the topic of pet therapy appealed to me. I wanted to further investigate the potential link between animals and humans, especially when the relationship pertained to the healing process.

When I began working in a hospital, I became amazed at how much traditional medicinal means were used, or overused, to treat patients. It was obvious to me that not every patient would respond to such treatment and that an alternative must exist for patients who needed other methods of stimulation to facilitate their recovery from an illness or injury. Upon my first visit to the floor in the pediatric unit of the Johnson City Medical Center, I passed by a number of rooms labeled “Pet Therapy”. This intrigued my curiosities so I questioned a nurse in the unit regarding her knowledge of the rooms. She them proceeded to inform me of the hospital’s policy allowing various animals or pets to visit the patients. The animals can visit the entire unit or if a specific patient is in need of emotional stimulation, the patient can play with the animal in one of the individual pet therapy rooms.

INTRODUCTION, CONT…

Upon further investigation, it is apparent that pet therapy is a popular type of rehabilitation and is used commonly in a variety of medical facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and other arenas for treatment. Though animals cannot speak English back to us, they still communicate through touch and expressions. Animals can be utilized in a number of ways including occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, improving cognitive skills, patient counseling, and perhaps most importantly, socialization.

Through the bond created between animals and humans, animals can help patients increase their quality of life. Research has proven that animals can ease feelings of fear, despair, loneliness, and isolation among hospital-bound patients. Studies have also shown that through touch or simply being in the same room as an animal companion, can have a calming effect. Physiologically, a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as, reduction in pain has often been observed in persons provided with animal assisted therapy. Emotionally, animals can distract patients from their pain and stress and provide something for the patients to look forward to. I anticipate proving that, in many cases, this interaction could alleviate the need for medicinal treatments, thus resulting in an overall sense of healing in the direct care of patients.

INTRODUCTION, CONT…

While there may exist no answer to the question of therapy or

pharmaceutical treatment, at the very least, I expect to provide more

documentation of the efficacy of pet therapy in the healing process.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Research Question #1– There were many research questions contained in

investigating my topic, one being what are treatment alternatives to drug therapy? Surprisingly, there are numerous supplementary options and pet therapy is just one of many. For example, psychiatrists have long studied the effects of mood enhancing drugs in patients with generalized depression or anxiety and many researchers still don't understand why medications, which boost the production of the brain chemical serotonin, aren't effective for everyone. Fortunately, the researchers have found links to other activities that produce the same chemical reactions in the brain and a few of these include physical activity, acupuncture, psychotherapy and such holistic approaches as art, music and pet therapies.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Research Question #2– Another question my research sought to answer

concerned the utilization of pet therapy and its efficacy in treating patients as an alternative to drugs that can cause dependencies. To my dismay, there has been little research done on this topic. It has been proven that pet therapy can have the same effects without the use of mood altering substances, but my research did reveal that many healthcare practitioners are reluctant to substitute this therapy for a treatment they can see immediate results with. For so long, pet therapy has been viewed in the healthcare community as a recreational treatment and it has not been until recently that it has been seen as a legitimate alternative to medications.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Research Question #3– My primary question was how much is medication

overused or misused because there is not enough "time" for direct patient care? Through my personal research and after analyzing the research of others, it is obvious that holistic medicine has the potential be just as effective as a traditional approach to healing. There is little research showing the long-term effects of mood altering or mood enhancing drugs, but one advantage of pet therapy it that it is clear that there can be no harmful long-term consequences. Pet therapy may produce no response in some patients, but it most definitely will not prove to be detrimental to patients in any way.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

While there has been a growing emphasis on holistic medicine including pet therapy

as a treatment modality, little research demonstrates the efficacy of pet therapy as a treatment alternative. This study is

most concerned with this type of treatment versus drug therapy. This is a

very controversial topic among healthcare providers who believe that drug

treatments are often the default reflex of the healthcare community and that these reflexes are, many times, unwarranted.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Purpose:

– The purpose of this study is to examine the rate at which medicinal treatments are used and to understand why that is the reflex of most healthcare practitioners. It is evident through research that drug treatments have become the easiest thing to do and requires less amounts of time and effort than therapy and rehabilitation, so much so that drugs are considered the only option.

PROBLEM STATMENT

Significance:

– The significance of the study seeks to change the way medication is used, and misused, in the treatment of children with illnesses, injuries, and disabilities while focusing on relationships as a coping mechanism. Many patients, especially children, have problems that are treated by drugs when no other alternative is seen. The use of pet therapy could significantly alleviate the drug-dependency in the patient population. Therapy is highly underestimated, as emotional healing is essential for an overall sense of well-being.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Validity of Research:– The research of pet therapy is

important and valid to both me and to society for a number of reasons. The use of this particular therapy is proven to heal illnesses through touch, communication, and companionship. Holistic medicine is a valuable tool, and great advances could be made if more of society were made aware of its effectiveness.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Upon evaluating a number of peer-reviewed journals and case studies concerning the effects of pet therapy, my opinion is that, although there is a need for further research, the benefits of such a therapy cannot be denied. It is imperative that the medical field seeks to cut down on drug addictions and the spending that is associated with medicinal treatment; the only way to do this is to seek alternatives to managing pain and illnesses.

LITERATURE REVIEW, CONT…

My ideas and opinions remain firmly grounded, even more so following my review of the literature. It appears that the healthcare community is making notable strides to integrate these newfound types of therapy into the treatment regimen. These advancements could only mean that healthcare practitioners across the country have realized the importance of pet therapy and the changes it can produce in the healing of their patients.

METHOD

In my research of medicine versus therapy, the project offered itself more towards a quantitative method of research. Going by what Bailey's suggests, the reasons for using a quantitative method are if you want to prove a hypothesis, look for the effect of one variable on another, look for a relationship between 2 or more variables, find out specific facts about a large group of people, and if there is access to a large group of subjects who meet the needed criteria. These were all ultimate goals of my research, most importantly to find a relationship between medicine/therapy and drug dependency/healing rate. I did not intend to generate a new therapy or offer treatment itself, but only to study what had already been done. This method was beneficial to my project by allowing me to build upon research that has already been done regarding this topic and issues peripheral to the topic itself.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Upon analyzing the research done by others, it appears difficult to find a direct link between animal-human interactions and progressive healing of patients with either acute or chronic illnesses or injuries. Bailey’s states that human behavior is “extremely complex and, therefore, difficult to isolate and to measure” thus resulting in variations in research, or an indefinite conclusion (Bailey xxi). While there is an obvious impact of an animal-human bond on those being treated, it is difficult to say if pet therapy could be used as a full-fledged replacement for medicinal treatments. There is seemingly a key significance of using pet therapy as a treatment alternative, however much more research should be conducted before conclusions are drawn.

CONCLUSION

While there has been a growing emphasis on holistic medicine including pet therapy as a treatment modality, little research demonstrates the efficacy of pet therapy as a treatment alternative. This study is most concerned with this type of treatment versus drug therapy. This is a very controversial topic among healthcare providers who believe that drug treatments are often the default reflex of the healthcare community and that these reflexes are, many times, unwarranted.

This research proves there is a positive correlation between the use of animals in the healing process and the reduction in the use of medication to treat certain illnesses and psychological disorders. Most of the studies I examined contained exceptional information to support my theories, but they lacked the depth needed to make a factual connection. For the future, I can only hope that more information can be gathered and provided to the public about the importance of integrating pet therapy into the idyllic patient care philosophy.

Bibliography

American Psychological Association (2001). APA Publications Manual (Black book, 5th Edition).

Bailey, D. M. (1997). Research for the Health Professional: A Practical Guide (2nd Edition).Philadelphia: F. A. Davis. ISBN 0-8036-0151-4 (pbk.)

Barker S, Dawson K. The effects of animal-assisted therapy on anxiety ratings of hospitalizedpsychiatric patients. Psychiatric Serv. 1998; 39:797-801.

Bibliography, cont...

Benefits of pet ownership on seniors explored in detail: study shows fewer physician visits,lower blood pressure. (2004, April) DVM Newsmagazine, pp. 38.

Benda, W. (2004). The therapeutic nature of the human/animal bond: implications for integrative public health. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, pp. 26-30

Bruck, Laura. Rabalais, A. (1996). Art, Music and pet therapy. (Today’s Ancillaries, part 2). Nursing Homes Journal, v45, pp. 36-38

Bibliography, cont…

Geisler, A.M. (2004). Companion animals in palliative care: stories from the bedside. American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, pp. 285-320.

Guest. (2002). Pet therapy does more than break routine: visits help with psychiatric andtherapeutic issues. Patient Education Management, pp. 46.

Lynch, James J., (2004). Developing a Physiology of Inclusion: Recognizing the Health Benefits of Animal Companions. Delta Society. Retrieved September 30, 2004, from http://www.deltasociety.org/dsx109.html.

Bibliography, cont…

Montague. Healthy Reasons to Have a Pet. Pet Therapy Holistic Treatment Online. Retrieved 3 October, 2004 from http://www.holistic-online.com/Pets/pets_pet-therapyhealthbenefits.htm.

THE END!