Online Search Strategies

LIS6603 Basic Information Sources/Services

Due: June 18, 2018

Query Analysis:

Given:
 Dogs
 Cats
 Animals
 Therapeutic programs
 Old people
 Yellow Labrador
 St. John’s Home

Wanted:
 Information on therapeutic programs involving animals for old people
 Proposal to the administration of St. John’s Home to allow for therapy animals
 Benefits of therapy or service animals for the elderly

Modifiers:
 Elderly, elder, older, aging, senior citizen, geriatric
 Therapy, assistance, support
 Patient, resident care
 Nursing, retirement, or old folks home
 Therapy, service animal(s)

Search Strategy:

Start from the USF Libraries home page and conduct a general subject search for relevant
databases that may include articles on elderly care and therapy animals. I will utilize Boolean
operators in my search to narrow down results accordingly. My goal is to locate scholarly and
peer-reviewed sources supporting the patron’s inquiry. I also wish to provide a substantial variety
of evidential material in terms of resources, such as articles and books available. Although I am
unable to follow up with the patron in order to determine exactly what type of institution St.
John’s Home is, I am naturally assuming it is a nursing or residential facility for the elderly, so I
will highlight said criteria in my query, since a correlation solely between elderly and therapy
animals may yield too broad of results for the patron’s objective. I shall focus on authoritative
sources in support of service or companion animals for the patron to submit to the administration
for review, so my determined sentiment of results will be favorable or positive in nature, as I am
sure the patron is specifically looking for. Finally, in addition to the databases and results listed, I
will include a brief abstract of each source as I would for the patron in theory.

Databases:
  Ageline
 LexisNexis Academic
 EBSCO eBook Collection
 Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest)

Query Results:

(Listed by database in MLA format including an abstract of each source.)

Ageline:

Search Terms: elderly OR aged OR older OR elder OR geriatric AND therapy dogs OR service
animals

 Cipriani, Joseph, et al. "Dog-Assisted Therapy for Residents of Long-Term Care

Facilities: An Evidence-Based Review with Implications for Occupational
Therapy." Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, vol. 31, no. 3, 01 Jan. 2013,
pp. 214-240. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=gnh&AN=EP89768695&site=ehost-live.

Abstract: Quantitative, evidence-based determination of whether residents of long-term

care facilities who receive dog-assisted therapy achieved outcomes that positively
influence quality of life. Analysis was beneficial with positive correlations, but
inconclusive due to the limited research on the subject.

(Additional modifiers per this source: program evaluation, medical research, pet therapy.)

 Jackson, Daun L. Effects of Pet-Facilitated-Therapy on Depression of Elders in Long-

Term Care Facilities. UMI Dissertation Services, ProQuest Information and Learning,
Ann Arbor, MI, 01 Jan. 2006. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=gnh&AN=941386&site=ehost-live.

Abstract: Study performed to determine effects of pet-facilitated therapy on depression of

elders living in long-term care facilities, as aging adults are frequently diagnosed in this
setting. Results indicated positive effects, but not statistically significant as further
studies are required.

(Additional modifiers per this source: intervention strategies, older adults,

institutionalized populations, long term care.)

 Carlisle, Gretchen K. M. "Human-Animal Interaction and Older Adults." Journal of

Gerontological Nursing, vol. 38, no. 12, 01 Dec. 2012, pp. 54-56. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=gnh&AN=EP83752256&site=ehost-
live.
 Abstract: Case study of elderly woman who suffered a stroke and received help from a
certified therapy dog. Also provides discussion of research that found elderly patients or
senior residents with dogs led to reduced blood pressure, increased social interaction and
decreased levels of loneliness.

 Marx, Marcia S., et al. "The Impact of Different Dog-Related Stimuli on Engagement of
Persons with Dementia." American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias,
vol. 25, no. 1, 01 Feb. 2010, pp. 37-45. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=gnh&AN=EP48548968&site=ehost-live.

Abstract: Provides an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of animal-assisted

therapy in nursing home residents with dementia. Concluded that nursing homes “should
consider animal-assisted therapy and dog-related stimuli, as they successfully engage
residents with dementia.”

(Additional modifiers per this source: assistive devices, disabled, chronically ill.)

LexisNexis Academic:

Search Terms: elderly OR aging AND therapy animal OR therapy dog AND nursing home

 Smith, Sandi. "Critter Corner: Pets for senior citizens Pet ownership has health benefits
for seniors." Las Cruces Sun-News (New Mexico). (September 10, 2013). LexisNexis
Academic. http://www-lexisnexis-
com.ezproxy.lib.usf.edu/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?lni=597X-2FN1-JCB3-
42HK&csi=270944,270077,11059,8411&hl=t&hv=t&hnsd=f&hns=t&hgn=t&oc=00240
&perma=true

Abstract: Brief review of how pets can help elderly owners live longer, healthier and
more enjoyable lives. Some examples are provided of success in residential homes for the
elderly, which have shown a 15 percent lower mortality rate than traditional nursing
homes over the past five years. Reference to successful therapeutic programs of
behavior-tested animals brought to hospices, hospitals, assisted living homes for seniors.

 Huss, Rebecca J. “Re-Evaluating The Role of Companion Animals in the Era of the
Aging Boomer”. Akron Law Review. 47 Akron L. Rev. 497. (2014). LexisNexis
Academic. http://www-lexisnexis-
com.ezproxy.lib.usf.edu/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?lni=5D17-7WB0-00CT-
V0SW&csi=270944,270077,11059,8411&hl=t&hv=t&hnsd=f&hns=t&hgn=t&oc=00240
&perma=true

Abstract: Detailed evaluation from a legal standpoint of the predominantly positive

benefits of the elderly with a companion, assistance, or service animal, while
encouraging the availability of resources and further study on the subject. Supports the
idea of residential animal programs.
EBSCO eBook Collection:

Search Terms: elderly OR aged OR older OR elder OR geriatric AND therapy dogs OR service
animals

 Hugo, Lynne. Where the Trail Grows Faint : A Year in the Life of a Therapy Dog Team.
University of Nebraska Press, 2005. River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=127267&site=ehost-live.

Abstract: In the case that a book is desired, this is a thoughtful nonfiction item about
therapy dogs with a sympathetic tone, telling the story of a service dog that regularly
visits a nursing home in the Midwest and its interactions with nurses, social workers,
gerontologists, and those in long-term care.

Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest):

Search terms: aging elderly AND therapy dogs

 Walsh, Froma, P.H.D. "Human-Animal Bonds I: The Relational Significance of

Companion Animals." Family Process, vol. 48, no. 4, 2009, pp. 462-80. ProQuest,
https://search.proquest.com/docview/218872728?accountid=14745.

Abstract: Brief survey of the evolution of human-animal bonds and review of the research
on the health and mental health benefits. Examines the positive relational significance of
companion animals and evaluates the emerging field of animal-assisted interventions,
noting applications in hospital and eldercare settings.

 Banks, Marian R., and William A. Banks. "The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on
Loneliness in an Elderly Population in Long-Term Care Facilities." The Journals of
Gerontology, vol. 57A, no. 7, 2002, pp. M428-32. ProQuest,
https://search.proquest.com/docview/208635810?accountid=14745.

Abstract: Authors characterize the resident population in long-term care facilities

desiring animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and determine that AAT does reduce loneliness in
aging adults residing in eldercare.

 Bustad, Leo K.. Animals, Aging, and the Aged, University of Minnesota Press, 1981.
ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/usf/detail.action?
docID=345496.

Abstract: Another book that explores the significant contributions of animals to our
understanding of aging, improving geriatric medicine, and providing companionship and
assistance to the elderly.

Results Analysis:
I began my search for databases by subject. I was prepared to try a variety of subjects, but my
first inclination towards “Aging Studies” was sufficient and retrieved a wealth of databases from
which to choose. In fact, my first database, Ageline, was probably efficient in meeting the needs
of the patron in question. When entering “elderly” in the first field it auto-populated “elderly or
aged or older or elder or geriatric,” which was useful, so I kept that. I alternated between entering
“nursing home” and “therapy dogs” or “service animals” in my queries. For my initial search I
did check off all applicable equivalent subjects and related words, but for all subsequent searches
I did not. I usually enter a date range for relevancy, but I didn’t have to do so this time, as my
query retrieved all relatively recent articles. I also happened to yield predominantly positive
results for the patron as I set out to do from the onset. I would note that the consensus appears to
be that there remains insufficient studies and research established on the subject, but the sources
I located seemed to be in favor of the patron’s objective in varying degrees. Prior to my research,
I assumed I would need to consult Google Scholar for direction, but I was fortunate in my initial
search strategies that it was never required.

I determined that one database was not sufficient for this assignment, however successful my
results were, so I reviewed a variety from my initial list of databases by subject. I did not have
success with PubMed, but LexisNexis Academic and Social Services Abstracts were rich with
quality sources. I included EBSCO eBook Collection with a single reference to a book if the
patron was so inclined, but I subsequently located an additional book via Social Services
Abstracts (powered by ProQuest) that I considered an even better possibility. While my list of
results is rather lengthy, I’m submitting this assignment in the same format I would have
provided to the patron in reality. In short, I’d provide as many resources as I felt necessary to
meet her goal, as well as include brief abstracts for easy perusal, so that is why I organized my
discussion post as I did.

If the patron’s aim was to present evidentiary support to the administration of St. John’s Home in
favor of a therapeutic program that involves service animals for elderly residents, I believe my
results were exactly what she was looking for and would have satisfied her inquiry accordingly.