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.

Included in

Nursing Commons

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