1100NRS: While Health Information Technologies (Health IT) has the Potential to Improve Patient care and Safety: Contemporary Nursing Assignment, GU, Singapore

AIM:
While Health Information Technologies (Health IT) has the potential to improve patient care and safety, it is important that strategies are in place to manage appropriate use and ensure the benefits of Health IT are able to be achieved in real-world clinical settings (Singh & Sittig, 2016). The aim of this assignment is to provide students with the opportunity to develop an educational poster for their nursing peers to develop their Health IT skills.
This assignment will assess the following learning outcomes:

1. Describe the professional issues faced by nurses working within a health care system and how such issues impact health care
2. Explain professional responsibilities and reflect on the role of the nurse within the Singaporean health care system
3. Critique literature related to global, political, economic, cultural, and environmental issues that may have an impact on health care and nursing practice
4. Discuss contemporary issues related to health and illness and the contribution made by nurses to the provision of safe and effective health care

What Are The Benefits Of Canine-Assisted Therapy For Dementia Sufferers?

BACKGROUND

Millions of people worldwide are diagnosed with dementia every year, a trend predicted to increase over the coming decades as a result of an aging population. With no immediate medical cure on the horizon to reverse or stop the progressive deterioration associated with this condition, researchers have devoted a significant amount of time and resources to exploring potential alternative therapies to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life (Buettner, Fitzsimmons, & Barba, 2011). Many of these studies have explored the use of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), an activity facilitated by a professional, whereby dementia patients and trained canines interact to facilitate therapeutic outcomes such as relaxation, cognitive stimulation and pleasure (Filan & Llewellyn-Jones, 2006).

OBJECTIVE

To elicit the benefits associated with AAT as a non-pharmacological intervention for the alleviation of dementia symptoms, with the intention of advocating its increased use in the future.

Search And Selection Strategy

Upon formulation and refinement of the research question, a literature search was conducted using the following rigorous and comprehensive sequential process:

Recommentations For Clinical Practice

Registered Nurses should advocate the use of AAT. AAT sessions should be conducted for people with mild to moderate levels of dementia in groups of 3-11 for a duration of approximately 10 weeks, with sessions for 30 minutes held once or twice a week and according to a standard format (Perkins, 2008). AAT should be used be utilized with patients who have a past history that demonstrates a positive association with canines. As such, patients should be screened to determine their suitability. Standardization of health and safety procedures, as well as formal staff training for AAT. Specialized canine training and breed selection analogous to that used for Guide Dogs Australia should take place.

Recommendations For Future Research

Future studies should: 11, Utilise more than one breed and size of dog to reduce bias from patients. Place increased emphasis on the extent to which therapeutic outcomes are sustained. Utilize larger sample sizes.

Conclusion

Research to date suggests that AAT is an effective vehicle through which many of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia may be ameliorated. This has been attributed to the unique connections that canines and dementia sufferers appear to be able to form. However, if AAT is to be utilized more extensively in the future, there needs to be more research conducted to confirm and build upon findings contained within the current body of knowledge. Additionally, if AAT is to be accepted more widely amongst members of the healthcare profession, there needs to be a standardized approach to its development, delivery, and oversight, which is analogous to that of Guide Dogs.