Understanding Parents' Attitudes on Efficacy Regarding Their Children's Involvement in Occupational Therapy Assisted by Therapy Dog: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Aim: To explore parents’ perceptions of the efficacy of occupational therapy supported by a dog assisted therapy (DAT) for their children.
Methods: This qualitative study was based on semi-structured interviews conducted from March to May 2024 in a clinical setting, with participants being parents of children enrolled in DAT for more than six weeks. The interviews focused on their attitudes about potential benefits and limitations of therapy, as well as the overall views of the therapeutic process. A modified version of Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic approach was used to analyze the data.
Results: Interviews were conducted with 13 parents, after which, four key themes were identified through the thematic analysis. The theme of behavioral patterns captured participants’ perspectives on behavioral improvements due to DAT. The theme of specific developments encompassed notable improvements reported by the participants. The theme of observed challenges and limitations captured participants’ opinions on downsides of the therapeutic process. The theme of parental view of the therapeutic process represented overall observations regarding therapeutic aspects perceived by parents. Parents noted improvements in their children’s empathy and affection, with interactions promoting gentler, more considerate behavior beyond therapy sessions. Developmental gains, like expanded vocabulary, better eating habits, and improved sensory-motor skills, were observed by parents in reagrds to their children. However, challenges such as child’s initial fear of the dog and insufficient therapy sessions were noted by parents.
Conclusions: The parents in our study perceived DAT as a valuable adjunct to traditional occupational therapy by parents, contributing positively to their children’s therapeutic process. They expressed a need for more information about DAT and suggested increasing the number of therapy sessions to enhance effectiveness. This study provides insights into the parental perspective on DAT, emphasizing its potential to improve outcomes for children with disabilities and identifying areas for further research.