Date of Award/Publication
4-2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Advanced Practice Nursing
First Supervisor
Cynthia McCloskey
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines quality of life (QOL) as an individual’s perception of his or her position in life in the context of their culture and value systems in relation to their goals and expectations. The goal of this pilot study was to determine how pet therapy can influence QOL of residents in assisted living facilities. To measure the anticipated change in QOL, each participant in the experimental group was required to complete the WHO Quality of Life brief questionnaire, WHOQOL-BREF, before the initiation of the pet therapy program and after the session, for a total of two sessions. The experimental group also completed an interview after the therapy sessions regarding their experience. The Results of the pilot study demonstrated that not only did the participants’ perceive a change in QOL as measured by the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, but they also experienced a decreased sense of loneliness with an increase perception of QOL after completion of the study. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship pet therapy has on a person’s QOL while residing in an ALF.
Recommended Citation
VanVoorhis, Kathy L., "Pilot Study on Pet Therapy and Quality of Life" (2010). Nursing Masters. Paper 42.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/nursing_etd_masters/42
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.