Animal-assisted interventions for dementia in the outpatient clinic setting : a feasiblity study
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[EMBARGOED UNTIL 12/01/2026] Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are highly prevalent; however, there are currently no established interventions specifically designed to manage these symptoms within outpatient clinic settings. Animal-assisted interventions have demonstrated acceptability and effectiveness as non-pharmacological approaches for symptom management in various clinical populations. Despite this, there is a notable lack of research exploring the application of animal-assisted interventions for persons with dementia in outpatient memory clinics. This mixed-methods feasibility study aimed to evaluate both the feasibility and acceptability of an animal-assisted intervention for persons with dementia (PWDs) in an outpatient clinic environment. Data were collected from three groups of participants: (1) PWDs, (2) caregivers, and (3) health care providers. Ten PWDs participated in the intervention, each engaging with a certified therapy dog for a minimum of 10 minutes prior to their scheduled appointments in a memory clinic. Following the intervention, PWDs and their caregivers completed investigator-developed Likert scale surveys and participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Health care providers also completed post-intervention Likert scale surveys. Qualitative data from interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings indicated that all PWDs (100%) reported feeling comfortable, and the majority (88.9%) reported feeling happy during their interaction with the therapy dog. Similarly, all caregivers (100%) expressed comfort with the therapy dog interaction and reported that the experience made the person with dementia feel happy (90%). Across all participant groups, including health care providers, no one reported the interaction as burdensome (100%). Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews revealed four overarching themes: (1) baseline behaviors and feelings, (2) feelings towards the opportunity, (3) positive interactions with dogs, and (4) positive overall experiences at doctor appointments. Recruitment strategies for the study proved feasible, and the intervention was considered safe across all participant groups. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility and acceptability of animal-assisted interventions for PWDs in outpatient clinical settings. Future research is warranted to investigate the potential impact of animal-assisted interventions on specific behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia within this context.
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Ph. D.