Comparison of knowledge about animal-assisted therapy, among students of physiotherapy
Journal Title: Complementary & Alternative Medicine in Science - Year 2013, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Background. Based on the available literature it is believed that animal-assisted therapy as a complementary or (more seldom) alternative treatment approach is applied to support the treatment of multiple diseases, signifi cantly improving the quality of patients’ lives. The goal of the study was to assess the knowledge of selected methods of animal-assisted therapy among students of physiotherapy who are potential users of this approach. Material and methods. The authors developed a questionnaire to collect information about the respondents and their knowledge of hip- potherapy, canine-assisted therapy and feline-assisted therapy. The sample consisted of 132 students (study group) and 56 persons professionally dealing with animal-assisted therapy as a complementary treatment approach (control group). Results. The results did not show any statistically signifi cant correlation between the study level and the study mode, having or not having animals/pets, the place of abode, age and gender and the level of knowledge on animal-assisted therapy. The results also allowed the authors to compare this knowledge with that of persons dealing professionally with this method of treatment and to show a statistically signifi cant knowledge defi cit in physiotherapy students. Conclusions. 1. The surveyed physiotherapy students had a statistically equal knowledge of animal-assisted therapy, regardless their study level and mode. 2. The surveyed physiotherapy students did not have a suffi cient knowledge of animal-assisted therapy, diff ering signifi cantly from the practitioners, albeit the students believe that animal-assisted therapy is a useful approach. 3. Having or not having animals/pets, place of abode, age, gender and the school/university the subjects graduated from or learned at very poorly or poorly correlate with the knowledge of animal-assisted therapy. 4. It is recommended to introduce courses in animal-assisted therapy into the curriculum of physiotherapy studies as an eff ective approach, supporting complex treatment of selected conditions.
Authors and Affiliations
Rafał Białas, Beata Popielarz-Miziołek, Wiesław Tomaszewski
Keywords
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