Research in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) has grown substantially, yet the mechanisms driving their effectiveness remain elusive. The systematic review titled "Specific and Non-specific Factors of Animal-Assisted Interventions Considered in Research: A Systematic Review" by Wagner, Grob, and Hediger (2022) provides valuable insights for practitioners aiming to enhance their therapeutic approaches.
Understanding Specific and Non-Specific Factors
The review highlights the importance of distinguishing between specific and non-specific factors in AAIs. Specific factors are those unique to the intervention, such as the presence of an animal, interaction with the animal, and the animal's movement. Non-specific factors include therapeutic aspects, social interaction, and novelty effects.
Key Findings for Practitioners
The review found that:
- 84% of studies mentioned hypotheses about how AAIs work, but 16% did not define specific hypotheses.
- Most studies implicitly considered the animal as a specific factor, reflecting the common assumption that the animal is crucial for the effects of AAIs.
- Non-specific factors like therapeutic aspects and social interactions have been controlled for in past studies, suggesting that these elements are already being considered in the field.
Implementing the Findings
Practitioners can enhance their AAIs by:
- Clearly defining specific hypotheses about the working mechanisms of AAIs in their therapeutic approaches.
- Using innovative control conditions to isolate the specific effects of the animal from other factors.
- Considering the animal as a complex stimulus and examining its characteristics to determine which are essential for the intervention's success.
Encouraging Further Research
The review suggests that future research should employ component studies to examine the active components of AAIs. This involves:
- Carefully planning control conditions to isolate specific factors.
- Drawing on knowledge from placebo research to examine the impact of contextual factors.
- Investigating if the animal is a specific factor and, if so, which characteristics of the animal are crucial for the effects.
Conclusion
Understanding the specific and non-specific factors of AAIs is crucial for improving therapeutic outcomes. By implementing the findings from this systematic review, practitioners can refine their approaches and contribute to the growing body of research in this field.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Specific and Non-specific Factors of Animal-Assisted Interventions Considered in Research: A Systematic Review.
