動物介在活動が終末期がん患者の心身に及ぼす影響

The Effects of Animal-assisted Activity on the Physical and Psychological Well-being of Terminal Cancer Patients

要旨

　本研究の目的は，動物介在活動を体験した終末期がん患者に，活動に伴う心身への影響を聞き取り，主要な影響を見出すこと，看護実践への示唆を得ることである．対象は，緩和ケア病棟に入院中の終末期がん患者6名である．方法は，犬による施設訪問型動物介在活動の参加観察と動物介在活動前後に半構成的面接で，質的記述的に分析した．

　分析の結果，動物介在活動が終末期がん患者の心身に及ぼした影響として，【身体的安楽を得る】【幸福感を抱く】【癒しを得る】【病室が心地よい空間へと変わる】【非日常的な安らぎの時間を堪能する】【解放感が得られる】【人間と動物の絆を実感する】【自尊心が高まる】【今後の生き方を見出す】というカテゴリーが導き出された．

　死と対峙しながら入院生活を送る中で，動物と触れ合うという非日常を経験することにより，患者はさまざまな苦痛から一時的に解放され，安らぎを得ることができた．終末期がん患者にとって，家族のように近い存在と感じられる犬との触れ合いは，心身の苦痛緩和に効果的な補完代替療法として導入する意義が示唆された．

Abstract

　The purpose of this research was to interview terminal cancer patients who experienced animal-assisted activity about its effects on their physical well-being and psychological mindset, find out the main effects, and provide suggestions for future nursing practices. In this research, the subjects consisted of six terminal cancer patients who were hospitalized at a palliative care unit. The study data were collected by semi-structured interviews held before and after animal-assisted activity, and observation of participants. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative and descriptive study.

　It was clarified that animal-assisted activity physically and psychologically affected the terminal cancer patients. The effects of animal-assisted activity on terminal cancer patients. physical and psychological aspects were "Physical comfort", "Feeling happiness", "Receiving natural healing", "Transferred from hospital room to a comfortable space", "Satisfying time of peace", "Sense of freedom", "Felt the bond between humans and dogs", "Raised self-respect", and "Found how to live in the future."

　The results showed that these subjects facing death got a sense of freedom from tremendous pain and enjoyed a time of peace through contact with the dogs. Interacting with the dogs in a family-like atmosphere and creating close relationships clarified that it was worthwhile to introduce terminal cancer patients to animal-assisted activity as an effective complementary alternative medicine to relieve their physical and psychological distresses.