Race, Zoonoses and Animal Assisted Interventions in Pediatric Cancer

Crina Cotoc and Stephen Notaro
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Crina Cotoc: Medical School and School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Stephen Notaro: College of Doctoral Studies, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85040, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-11

Abstract: Emerging evidence accumulates regarding the benefits of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) in facilitating pediatric cancer treatment and alleviating symptomatology through positive changes in the patients’ emotional, mental, and even physical status. A major concern expressed by healthcare providers and parents in implementing AAIs in hospital settings is the transmission of disease from animals to patients. Immunocompromised children, such as pediatric cancer patients are at increased risk for pet-associated diseases. Furthermore, existing disparities among the racial and ethnic minority groups of pediatric cancer patients can potentially exacerbate their risk for zoonoses. This literature review highlights the most common human infections from therapy animals, connections to the race and ethnic background of pediatric oncology patients, as well as means of prevention. The discussion is limited to dogs, which are typically the most commonly used species in hospital-based animal-assisted therapy. The aim is to highlight specific preventive measures, precautions and recommendations that must be considered in hospitals’ protocols and best practices, particularly given the plethora of benefits provided by AAI for pediatric cancer patients, staff and families.

Keywords: zoonosis; zoonoses; pediatric cancer; pediatric oncology; racial and ethnic minority groups; animal assisted interventions (AAIs); patient; child/children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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