2 results
P156: The Development of the PET@home Toolkit using the refined Experience-Based Co- Design Method (EBCD+)
- P.W.A. Reniers, R. Leontjevas, I.J.N. Declercq, M.-J. Enders-Slegers, D.L. Gerritsen, K. Hediger
-
- Journal:
- International Psychogeriatrics / Volume 35 / Issue S1 / December 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 February 2024, pp. 139-140
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Export citation
-
Objective:
The relevance of pets in long-term home care is increasingly recognized due to their positive effects on health outcomes in clients, and the growing numbers of pet-owning clients receiving long-term care at home (LTCH). In the Netherlands, there is a lack of supportive materials concerning pet-related issues in LTCH. The aim of this project was to develop materials to support care for LTCH-clients with pets. Using a participatory research approach, LTCH-clients with pets, family caregivers, and professional caregivers collaborated using the Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) method that we fine-tuned for frail clients (EBCD+) to create the PET@Home Toolkit.
Methods:The project started with a literature review on the roles of pets for older adults. To determine if similar roles were also relevant in LTCH, individual interviews were conducted with LTCH-clients, family caregivers, and professional caregivers. Thereafter, the original EBCD-method was used including group interviews with (1) LTCH-clients and family, (2) professional caregivers (3) mixed groups of (1) and (2). Participants could participate in multiple phases. Professional caregivers preferred online and weekday meetings and LTCH-clients and family caregivers preferred in person and weekend meetings. Therefore, we organized additional interviews, and separate online and in-person groups. Hence, the EBCD+ method included a review, complementary interviews, the original EBCD-method and continuous refinement and testing of instruments.
Results:The review and complementary interviews revealed similar roles related to pets in LTCH (e.g. Relational Aspects, Physical Health, and Social Aspects) to those as in the review on older adults. Based on the results, preliminary tools were developed, e.g., an information brochure. Furthermore, we conducted 14 semi-structured interviews, 6 focus groups, a psychology students workshop, and 4 online meetings with experts in human-animal interaction, education, and animal interest organizations (e.g., a veterinarian). It resulted in the Toolkit with different instruments, e.g., information brochure, e-learning module, and infographic.
Conclusion:We successfully used the EBCD+ method to develop an extensive and practically applicable Toolkit to support caregivers and their pet-owning LTCH-clients. The PET@home Toolkit will be available via the University Knowledge network for Older adult care Nijmegen (www.ukonnetwerk.nl).
216 - ECN Award: ‘The Meaning of Companion-Animal Support in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: An Integrative Review’
- P.W.A. Reniers, I. Declercq, D. Gerritsen, K. Hediger, M-J. Enders-Slegers, R. Leontjevas
-
- Journal:
- International Psychogeriatrics / Volume 33 / Issue S1 / October 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 November 2021, p. 17
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Export citation
-
Background:
Western countries face an aging population and increasing number of people with chronic illnesses. Many countries have shifted from a focus on institutional care to home-based care due to growing healthcare costs and pressure on long-term care. Despite, the increasing difficulty for contemporary family structures to support community-dwelling older adults (CDOA) who need care.
However, about 50% of households own pets which may provide some social support for CDOA. A dearth of studies investigated the support pets provide to CDOA that receive long-term care but a better understanding of pets’ support in CDOA is needed to help develop healthcare protocols and interventions that account for pets in CDOA’s lives.
Research Objective:To add insight into pets’ roles in support systems and the meaning this has for CDOA.
Method:This integrative review was based on qualitative studies on CDOA with pets (average age 65+). Due to few studies on CDOA with pets with chronic illnesses, this review also includes CDOA without a chronic disease. PubMed and PsycINFO, were searched with (MeSH) variations on terms of older adults, pets, and qualitative study-designs. Additionally, reference lists of systematic reviews and HABRI Central were searched. The included articles were inductively analysed in ATLAS.ti.
Results:A total of 15 articles were included in the review. 28 subthemes were categorised in 7 bidirectional factors: social, care, physical health, emotional, cognitive, bonding, and behavioural. CDOA indicate that pets are very important in their lives and have a positive influence on their social environment, mental, and physical health. However, also negative aspects of pet ownership were discussed. Limitations of the review were the varying research questions and diversity of participants in the included studies. Furthermore, we identified a need in some CDOA to keep their pets as long as possible.
Conclusion:This review adds a more comprehensive view on the meaning and role of pets in providing support to CDOA. However, more research is needed into the effects of the revealed factors on the wellbeing of CDOA and healthcare organisations should consider the development of guidelines accounting for the pets of long-term care clients.