Considerations for Recommending Service Dogs versus Emotional Support Animals for Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Background: Health care providers must understand factors that may guide the decision-making process for determining whether a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is appropriate for a service dog (SD) versus an emotional support animal (ESA), and assist SD training organizations in determining trained tasks that are suitable for the veteran’s needs. Purpose: This study explored the perspectives of SD training organizations and factors for human health care providers to consider before recommending a veteran with PTSD for a SD versus an ESA. The researchers identified information that providers should give organizations to guide the SD training and placement process. Methods: A nonexperimental web-based survey research design, including closed- and open-ended questions, was used to collect data. The sample population included SD training organizations in the United States and Canada that train SDs for veterans who have PTSD. Results: Results suggest that there are skills that can be completed by both SDs and ESAs, and specific tasks that can be only completed by SDs. Health care providers must consider factors related to animal welfare, human cognitive and psychosocial functioning, symptomatology, and expectations when determining if a veteran is a good fit for a SD versus an ESA. For veterans who are appropriate for a SD, information about individual functioning and needs in the above areas can help trainers make the best decisions regarding SD dog matching and training. Conclusion: Health care providers can play an important role in determining if a veteran with PTSD may benefit from a SD versus an ESA, and help SD training organization make informed decisions regarding SD partnership and training. Health care providers must have a strong understanding of the roles and functions of SDs and ESAs, and how dog partnership may help or hinder a veteran’s pursuit of independence in daily activities at home and in the community

Perceptions of Skill Development Among Occupational Therapy Students Who Participated in Virtual Fieldwork: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Occupational therapy fieldwork helps students refine their professional and technical skills to achieve competency required of entry-level occupational therapists. While fieldwork is traditionally completed in an in-person setting, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in some students completing fieldwork in a virtual format. Yet, minimal research has explored perceptions of skill development among students who complete virtual fieldwork placements. This qualitative descriptive study examined the perceptions of skill development among graduate-level occupational therapy students and graduates who participated in a virtual fieldwork placement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight participants from 3 different states completed semi-structured interviews of no longer than 60 minutes duration via Microsoft Teams. Verbatim interview transcriptions were analyzed by the researchers using a constant-comparative data analysis approach. Four key themes emerged: participants initially experienced uncertainty and had concerns regarding the development of their professional and technical skills; professional and technical skills improved during virtual fieldwork but skill development was perceived to be more difficult to accomplish; communication, peer support, online resources, and utilization of their fieldwork educator were primary strategies for facilitating skills development during virtual fieldwork; and virtual fieldwork provides valuable lessons that are applicable to future practice, but students did not recommend it for other occupational therapy students. The results of this study suggest that while virtual fieldwork placements may be valuable in some situations, educators must carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks before placing students in virtual fieldwork placements in the future and ensure that proper support is provided before and during the placement

Establishing Normative Values for the Barnett Balance Assessment Tool: A Preliminary Study

The purpose of this study was to establish normative data for the Barnett Balance Assessment (BBA) for individuals ages 18-70+ years. The BBA is a newly developed assessment tool that may address limitations present in other assessments currently used to detect balance deficits. The BBA was administered to 141 participants who had no history of medical issues that could impact balance. A review of the normative data collected indicated little variation in total assessment scores in the age categories of 18-29, 30-39, and 40-49, due to the presence of a ceiling effect. Variations existed in scores among participants in the remaining age categories (50-59, 60-69, and 70+). These findings may imply that the BBA has its greatest discriminative power in assessing individuals with impaired balance, and/or that the BBA is not sensitive enough to detect differences in individuals with mild balance impairments. The researchers suggest future studies be conducted with the BBA to establish norms with populations with known orthopedic or neurological conditions that may impair balance. Results of these studies could then be compared with the baseline data gathered in this study to determine the BBA’s usefulness in detecting balance impairments with clinical populations

The Impact of Service Dogs on Engagement in Occupation among Females with Mobility Impairments: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

It is becoming more common for people with disabilities to procure service dogs as a form of assistive technology (AT). However, there is little qualitative research examining the impact of service dogs on engagement in valued daily activities (occupations) among persons with mobility impairments. This study used a qualitative descriptive methodology to learn about the experiences of four female service dog owners with mobility impairments, with a focus on the impact of service dog use on the performance of daily occupations and participation in social activities, and their experiences utilizing a service dog as a form of AT. Data analysis indicated that each participant’s service dog made a significant impact on their everyday lives and their ability to independently perform everyday activities; however, there are also unique challenges associated with service dog ownership that must be considered when evaluating benefits of service dog partnership. Overall, the positive outcomes reported by participants indicate that service dogs can be considered a beneficial, adaptable form of AT for some persons with mobility impairments

Impacts of Mobility Dogs on Kinematics during Ambulation: A Quantitative Study

While prior research has explored various physiological consequences associated with assistive device use for ambulation, limited research has specifically explored the impact of mobility dog partnership on human kinematics. This descriptive study examined the impact of mobility dog partnership on kinematics of individuals in the normal young adult population. Sixteen participants were video recorded while walking in a straight line for 3.7 m (12 feet) under three different conditions (ambulating with no device, ambulating with a standard cane on the left side, and ambulating with a mobility dog on the left side). Differences between joint angles under each of the conditions were analyzed. Statistically significant differences were found in left elbow flexion when comparing ambulating with a cane versus ambulating with no device; left shoulder abduction when comparing ambulating with a cane versus ambulating with a mobility dog, ambulating with a mobility dog versus no device, and ambulating with a cane versus no device; and left hip extension when comparing ambulating with a mobility dog versus no device, and when ambulating with a mobility dog versus a cane. These findings suggest that providers should evaluate and monitor potential negative impacts of assistive devices such as mobility dogs on human kinematics