The CAP Primer de Maig in Lleida starts a canine therapy to reduce the anxiety of children who must undergo a blood or dental extraction
It is the second CAP in Lleida to implement the Extra-Can project, after the good results achieved in the CAP Bordeta-Magraners.
The Pediatric Service of the CAP Primero de Mayo in Lleida has launched the Extra-Can dog-assisted therapy project, aimed at children aged 3 to 8 who must undergo a blood or dental extraction.
The project, which began in May 2019 at the CAP Bordeta-Magraners Pediatrics service in Lleida, consists of incorporating a therapy dog to support and accompany the child, with the aim of reducing them. distress through distraction.
This therapy involves spending 10 minutes before the extraction with the animal, so that the boy or girl can interact. Subsequently, the extraction is carried out in the company of the dog and, finally, 5 more minutes of interaction are left. The objective is to reduce fear and anxiety and to generate a positive memory in children.
This is an IDIAPJGol research project, a clinical trial in which blood or dental extractions are performed with the accompaniment of the therapy dog (intervention group) and extractions without the presence of the animal (following the usual protocol), in order to compare their results (control group).
At the moment, 74 children with an average age of 5 years have participated in the CAP Bordeta-Magraners and of which 43 they have benefited from the accompaniment of the therapy dog.
The first results obtained show a significant decrease in anxiety in boys and girls during the extraction performed with canine therapy. The accompanying relatives believe that the dog helps to relax both the child and themselves, with a perception of a less aggressive technique, and they would recommend it to other families.
Given the good results obtained after 7 months of intervention in the CAP Bordeta-Magraners, (the project has been stopped until now due to the pandemic), and the good evaluation by the participants and professionals, it has now been implemented in a second BOSS of the city. Specifically, the Extra-Can project takes place every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at CAP Primero de Mayo and every Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at CAP Bordeta-Magraners.
