Functional Outcomes of Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Systematic Review

Stephanie Carnaghi, Aubrie Hurt, Michelle Polanic, & Scott Truskowski MS, OTL

Grand Valley State University

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes of animal-assisted

therapy related to performance skills and sensory functions listed in the Occupational Therapy

Practice Framework 3rd edition (OTPF-3).

Method: Three databases (PsychINFO, PubMed, and Cumulative Index to Nursing an Allied

Health Literature Complete [CINAHL]) were electronically searched January to March 2016.

Two authors independently reviewed the studies and determined the eligibility for inclusion

based on the inclusion criteria.

Results: Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria with outcome measures assessing motor skills,

social interaction skills, process skills, and sensory function. After synthesizing the articles,

researchers found that there is moderate evidence that AAT can improve motor skills and social

interaction and limited evidence that AAT can improve process skills and sensory processing.

Conclusions: Animal-assisted therapy was found to be an effective method in improving

functional outcomes. Further research is needed to clarify the practice of animal-assisted therapy

and how it can be used across healthcare disciplines.