Skip to main content
Journal cover image

A Systematic Literature Review of Animal-Assisted Interventions in Oncology (Part II): Theoretical Mechanisms and Frameworks.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Holder, TRN; Gruen, ME; Roberts, DL; Somers, T; Bozkurt, A
Published in: Integr Cancer Ther
2020

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) can improve patients' quality of life as complementary medical treatments. Part I of this 2-paper systematic review focused on the methods and results of cancer-related AAIs; Part II discusses the theories of the field's investigators. Researchers cite animal personality, physical touch, physical movement, distraction, and increased human interaction as sources of observed positive outcomes. These mechanisms then group under theoretical frameworks such as the social support hypothesis or the human-animal bond concept to fully explain AAI in oncology. The cognitive activation theory of stress, the science of unitary human beings, and the self-object hypothesis are additional frameworks mentioned by some researchers. We also discuss concepts of neurobiological transduction connecting mechanisms to AAI benefits. Future researchers should base study design on theories with testable hypotheses and use consistent terminology to report results. This review aids progress toward a unified theoretical framework and toward more holistic cancer treatments.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Integr Cancer Ther

DOI

EISSN

1552-695X

Publication Date

2020

Volume

19

Start / End Page

1534735420943269

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Quality of Life
  • Medical Oncology
  • Humans
  • Complementary & Alternative Medicine
  • Animals
  • 4208 Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
  • 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
  • 1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Holder, T. R. N., Gruen, M. E., Roberts, D. L., Somers, T., & Bozkurt, A. (2020). A Systematic Literature Review of Animal-Assisted Interventions in Oncology (Part II): Theoretical Mechanisms and Frameworks. Integr Cancer Ther, 19, 1534735420943269. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735420943269
Holder, Timothy R. N., Margaret E. Gruen, David L. Roberts, Tamara Somers, and Alper Bozkurt. “A Systematic Literature Review of Animal-Assisted Interventions in Oncology (Part II): Theoretical Mechanisms and Frameworks.Integr Cancer Ther 19 (2020): 1534735420943269. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735420943269.
Holder TRN, Gruen ME, Roberts DL, Somers T, Bozkurt A. A Systematic Literature Review of Animal-Assisted Interventions in Oncology (Part II): Theoretical Mechanisms and Frameworks. Integr Cancer Ther. 2020;19:1534735420943269.
Holder, Timothy R. N., et al. “A Systematic Literature Review of Animal-Assisted Interventions in Oncology (Part II): Theoretical Mechanisms and Frameworks.Integr Cancer Ther, vol. 19, 2020, p. 1534735420943269. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/1534735420943269.
Holder TRN, Gruen ME, Roberts DL, Somers T, Bozkurt A. A Systematic Literature Review of Animal-Assisted Interventions in Oncology (Part II): Theoretical Mechanisms and Frameworks. Integr Cancer Ther. 2020;19:1534735420943269.
Journal cover image

Published In

Integr Cancer Ther

DOI

EISSN

1552-695X

Publication Date

2020

Volume

19

Start / End Page

1534735420943269

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Quality of Life
  • Medical Oncology
  • Humans
  • Complementary & Alternative Medicine
  • Animals
  • 4208 Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
  • 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
  • 1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine