White‐Lewis S. Equine-assisted therapies using horses as healers: A concept analysis.
Nurs Open 2020;
7:58-67. [PMID:
31871691 PMCID:
PMC6917924 DOI:
10.1002/nop2.377]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims
A concept analysis was conducted to clarify the attributes, antecedents and meaning of equine-assisted therapy and present an operational definition.
Design
Concept analysis.
Methods
Walker and Avant's concept analysis method was used to analyse equine-assisted therapy, using horses as healers by defining and enumerating the attributes, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents. Example cases are presented.
Results
Defining attributes include the following: a human participant with an equine physically present to assist the human participant, a treatment or intervention as a result of the interactions between an equine and a human participant, a purposeful and regulated interaction and a positive health outcome goal from the interaction. Antecedents include a live horse with a human physically able to interact with the horse, a facilitator and accessibility to an equine-assisted therapy (EAT) programme. Consequences include improved balance, well-being, quality of life, trust, spasticity, self-efficacy, self-esteem, nurse presence, pleasure and a sense of accomplishment.
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