%0 Journal Article
%@ 2563-6316
%I 
%V 5
%N 
%P e51787
%T The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Enhancing Patients’ Well-Being: Systematic Study of the Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence
%A Pandey,Ramendra Pati
%A Himanshu,
%A Gunjan,
%A Mukherjee,Riya
%A Chang,Chung-Ming
%K animal-assisted therapy
%K pet therapy
%K outcome assessment
%K policies
%K systematic study
%D 2024
%7 18.3.2024
%9 
%J JMIRx Med
%G English
%X Background: Animal-assisted therapy, also known as pet therapy, is a therapeutic intervention that involves animals to enhance the well-being of individuals across various populations and settings. Objective: This systematic study aims to assess the outcomes of animal-assisted therapy interventions and explore the associated policies. Methods: A total of 16 papers published between 2015 and 2023 were selected for analysis. These papers were chosen based on their relevance to the research topic of animal-assisted therapy and their availability in scholarly databases. Thematic synthesis and meta-analysis were used to synthesize the qualitative and quantitative data extracted from the selected papers. Results: The analysis included 16 studies that met the inclusion criteria and were deemed to be of moderate or higher quality. Among these studies, 4 demonstrated positive results for therapeutic mediation and one for supportive mediation in psychiatric disorders. Additionally, all studies showed positive outcomes for depression and neurological disorders. Regarding stress and anxiety, 3 studies indicated supportive mediation, while 2 studies showed activating mediation. Conclusions: The overall assessment of animal-assisted therapy shows promise as an effective intervention in promoting well-being among diverse populations. Further research and the establishment of standardized outcome assessment measures and comprehensive policies are essential for advancing the field and maximizing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy. 
%R 10.2196/51787
%U https://xmed.jmir.org/2024/1/e51787
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/51787