Journal of Pediatrics & Child Care
Case Report
Animal-Assisted Interventions in Paediatric Oncology: The Story of Francesco and His Friend Megan
Chiara Rutigliano MA1*, Jessica Forte2, Teodoro Semeraro3, Alessandra Creti3, Rosa Maria Daniele2 and Nicola Santoro2
1Psychologist, Section of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology,
University Hospital of Bari,APLETI ETS, p.zza Giulio Cesare 11,
70124, Bari, Italy
2Section of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University Hospital of Bari, p.zza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
3AAT, Vir LABOR AAI Center, Carovigno, Brindisi, Italy
2Section of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University Hospital of Bari, p.zza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
3AAT, Vir LABOR AAI Center, Carovigno, Brindisi, Italy
*Address for Correspondence: Chiara Rutigliano MA, Psychologist, Section of Pediatric Hemathology-Oncology, University Hospital of Bari, p.zza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
Email: rutigliano.chiara@gmail.com
Submission: 29 June 2023
Accepted: 31 July 2023
Published: 03 August 2023
Copyright: © 2023 Chiara Rutigliano MA, et al. This is an open
access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work
is properly cited.
Abstract
Children affected by neoplasia face extended periods
of hospitalisation and lengthy, invasive courses of treatment.
Complementary non-pharmacological therapies, as Animal-Assisted
Interventions (AAI), are more frequently being used and integrated
alongside traditional forms of treatment with the objective of easing
adaptation to the hospital environment.
AAI is an umbrella term that includes animal-assisted activities (AAA), animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and animal-assisted education (AAE) and AAI Resident animals (RA)
Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) allow for the creation of meaningful relationships between people and animals: AAI’s aims are therapeutic, educational, and social, and are designed to increase a person’s sense of wellbeing.
This case-report presents the story of Francesco, a boy of 9 with leukaemia, and his sessions with Megan, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever. The ways in which AAI has allowed Francesco to counter boredom, fear, pain, and anxiety related to hospitalization are illustrated.
AAI is an umbrella term that includes animal-assisted activities (AAA), animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and animal-assisted education (AAE) and AAI Resident animals (RA)
Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) allow for the creation of meaningful relationships between people and animals: AAI’s aims are therapeutic, educational, and social, and are designed to increase a person’s sense of wellbeing.
This case-report presents the story of Francesco, a boy of 9 with leukaemia, and his sessions with Megan, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever. The ways in which AAI has allowed Francesco to counter boredom, fear, pain, and anxiety related to hospitalization are illustrated.