Pediatric Orthopedics and the Impact of Therapy Dogs on the Care of Hospitalized Children
Story of Gratitude
Dear friends,
We would like to share with you a story about animal-assisted therapy, a treatment approach that utilizes trained animals as therapeutic aids. Through interactions with animals, we can establish emotional connections and trust, promote cognitive and interpersonal progress, and alleviate feelings of stress, anxiety, and physical discomfort.
In 2016, we introduced a guide dog named Oba. In February 2019, Oba transitioned to become a therapy dog, becoming the first therapy dog working in palliative care in Taiwan. Over the past four years, Oba has been involved in various hospital activities, including birthday celebrations for patients and their families, wish fulfillment, comfort care, wound dressing changes, edema massages, and rehabilitation exercises. We have found that patients only need to gently touch Oba to feel warmth and comfort, providing solace for their physical and mental well-being.
Research has shown that children who receive animal-assisted therapy recover faster after surgery and experience reduced postoperative pain. Additionally, animal-assisted therapy can alleviate anxiety in hospitalized children, improve parental satisfaction, facilitate interpersonal relationships, enhance self-confidence, create a sense of security, and improve communication and social skills. Therefore, in clinical settings, the interaction between humans and animals is considered valuable and highly beneficial for promoting mental health.
In March 2023, our pediatric orthopedic scoliosis medical team began utilizing therapy dogs to enhance the quality of care for children with early-onset scoliosis. We discovered that these children have a natural affinity for animals. With the support of the Da-Deh Foundation, we introduced therapy dogs to children with early-onset scoliosis. For example, for children who need prolonged hospital stays for cranial traction therapy, celebrating their birthdays in the hospital can be a disheartening experience. We invited Oba to celebrate birthdays with the children, making shared wishes and promising our dedication to their early recovery (Figure 1). Additionally, before children undergo surgery, Oba specifically arrives early, coming from Taoyuan, and accompanies the children to the operating room before 7 am. Oba's presence alleviates the children's anxiety about the surgery, and even at the entrance of the operating room, Oba remains steadfast, unwilling to leave (Figure 2). Furthermore, to encourage Mingze to walk after surgery, we collaborated with a rehabilitation therapist to establish a reward system based on meeting the therapy dog. For every hour Mingze spends out of bed, he receives a small sticker. When he collects 10 stickers, he can meet Oba again. Within just 10 days, Mingze collected 30 stickers, greatly aiding his lower limb recovery (Figure 3). Similarly, for underweight children with poor appetite, the promise of meeting the therapy dog has resulted in significant weight gain.
Our pediatric orthopedic scoliosis medical team not only focuses on the physical health of these children but also recognizes their psychological needs. We strive to improve the hospital experience for these children, enhance the quality of care, and help them bravely face their illnesses.
If you have any questions about animal-assisted therapy, please feel free to reach out to our medical team. We are happy to assist you. Wishing you good health and happiness!
故事與感恩
兒童骨科輔助治療犬活動，提升住院病童的照護品質
親愛的朋友：
我們想與您分享一個關於動物輔助治療的故事，這是一種利用訓練有素的動物作為治療輔助工具的療法。透過與動物的互動，我們可以建立情感連結和信任，促進您在認知和人際功能上的進步，同時減輕壓力、焦慮和身體不適的感覺。
在105年，我們引進了一隻導盲犬，名叫Oba。108年2月，Oba轉型成為輔助治療犬，成為台灣第一隻在安寧病房工作的輔助治療犬。在過去的四年裡，Oba參與了許多醫院活動，包括病人和家屬的生日慶祝、心願實現、舒適護理、傷口換藥、水腫按摩和復健運動等。我們發現，病人只需要輕輕摸一摸Oba，就能感受到溫暖和安心，帶來身心的撫慰。
研究表明，接受動物輔助治療的孩童在手術後恢復得更快，並減輕手術後的疼痛。同時，動物輔助治療可以減輕住院兒童的焦慮感，提高家長的滿意度，有助於促進人際關係，增加自信心，創造安全感，並改善溝通和社交技巧。因此，在臨床上，人與動物的互動被認為具有價值，對於促進心理健康非常有幫助。
在112年3月，我們的骨科兒童脊柱側彎醫療團隊為了提升早發性脊柱側彎病童的照護品質，開始運用輔助治療犬。我們發現，病童們都喜歡親近動物，因此我們獲得了大德基金會的同意，將輔助治療犬引進早發性脊柱側彎的病童中。例如，對於需要長時間住院接受頭顱骨牽引治療的病童來說，生日卻必須在醫院度過是一個令人無奈的事情。我們邀請了Oba來和病童一起慶祝生日，許下共同的願望，並承諾我們會努力讓病童早日康復（圖一）。此外，在病童即將進行手術前，Oba特意早起，從桃園趕來，早上7點前到達病房，陪伴病童一起前往手術室。Oba的陪伴轉移了病童對手術的焦慮，甚至在手術室門口，Oba仍然守候著，久久不願離去（圖二）。此外，為了鼓勵銘澤在手術後下床行走，我們與復健師合作，制定了一個以與輔助治療犬相見為獎勵的承諾系統。只要銘澤每下床1小時，就可以獲得一個小貼紙。當他集滿10個貼紙時，就可以再次與Oba見面。短短的10天內，銘澤就集滿了30個貼紙，這對他下肢的康復有很大的幫助（圖三）。同樣地，對於體重過輕且食慾不好的病童，許下與輔助治療犬相見的承諾也帶來了實質的體重增加。
我們的骨科兒童脊柱側彎醫療團隊不僅關注病童的身體健康，同時也重視他們心理上的需求。我們希望改善病童在醫院的經歷，提升照護品質，並幫助他們勇敢地面對疾病。
如果您對動物輔助治療有任何問題，請隨時向我們的醫療團隊提出。我們樂意為您解答。衷心祝福您健康快樂！