Çocuklarda Anksi̇yeteni̇n Azaltılmasında Hayvan Destekli Uygulamalar
Özet
Çocuklarda anksiyete, özellikle medikal ve dental işlemler sırasında tedaviye uyumu ve iş birliğini etkileyen önemli bir klinik sorundur. Farmakolojik olmayan yaklaşımlara yönelik artan ilgiyle birlikte, insan–hayvan etkileşiminin terapötik amaçlarla kullanıldığı hayvan destekli uygulamalar çocuklarda kaygı ve stres yönetiminde dikkat çeken tamamlayıcı yaklaşımlardan biri haline gelmiştir. Bu bölümde hayvan destekli terapinin tarihsel gelişimi, temel kavramları ve güncel uygulama biçimleri ele alınmakta; çocuklarda anksiyetenin azaltılmasına katkı sağlayabilecek psikolojik ve fizyolojik mekanizmalar incelenmektedir. Özellikle pediatrik sağlık hizmetleri ve diş hekimliği ortamlarında terapi hayvanlarının kullanımı, dental anksiyete ve tedaviye uyum üzerindeki potansiyel etkileri güncel literatür doğrultusunda değerlendirilmektedir. Bunun yanı sıra özel gereksinimli çocuklar, pandemi sonrası ruh sağlığı, evcil hayvan–çocuk etkileşimi ve aile dinamikleri gibi farklı boyutlara yer verilmektedir. Hayvan destekli uygulamaların klinik kullanımında göz önünde bulundurulması gereken enfeksiyon kontrolü, alerji, güvenlik ve hayvan refahı gibi konular ile mevcut bilimsel kanıtların metodolojik sınırlılıkları da tartışılmaktadır.
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