Terapia com animais como intervenção de enfermagem para manejo da dor: revisão sistemática

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the available evidence on using animal-assisted therapy in Nursing for pain management. Method: a systematic review of 15 sources of information was conducted. Randomized clinical trials that used animal-assisted therapy for pain management in any population, in different healthcare settings, or others, as long as they had therapeutic purposes, were included. Studies that used animal-assisted therapy in combination with other intervention methods were also included. Control studies included standard treatment or other non-pharmacological interventions for pain management. There were no restrictions regarding sex, age, or ethnic origin. Theses, dissertations, editorials, and studies with incomplete data were excluded. Two researchers independently conducted the search and data extraction. Due to the diversity of the studies, only qualitative data analysis was performed. The risk of bias was assessed based on the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias. Results: twelve articles were included in the analysis, and the treatment protocol was not standardized. Moreover, 16.67% of the studies presented a high risk of bias, 50.00% showed some concerns, and 33.33% had a low risk. Although the majority of the studies (75%) reported positive results for pain management, due to the diversity of the studies, it was not possible to assert the effect of the intervention on this variable. Conclusion: although most of the studies obtained satisfactory results, insufficient evidence supports or refutes the use of animal-assisted therapy in Nursing for pain management. The results highlight the need for standardized and detailed studies in this relatively new area of Nursing.