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Full Dissertation_Vincent_April 5.pdf (1.71 MB)

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Feasibility of Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry

Vincent, Aviva
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2527-940X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1554476390381119

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Social Welfare.
Empirical research about the acceptability and feasibility of animal-assisted interventions with therapy dogs is an emergent field. The dental environment provides a controlled environment to test a strengths-based intervention for the benefit of children’s health. The empirical research herein is first grounded in attachment theory. Theoretical and empirical literature predominantly reference attachment theory as the framework to understand the association between internalized emotions and externalized negative behaviors, and AAIs. However, empirical publications tend to lack thorough definition and application of attachment theory. As such, this work seeks to redefine the theoretical foundation with a full discussion of history, mechanisms, and theory of change. The first phase of this study summarizes the findings of an exploratory survey conducted in the dental clinic to understand if therapy dogs would be desired by dental professionals and families. The second phase culminated with a pilot study to explore the feasibility of Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry. As a complete research project, this study achieved four independent yet inter-related purposes: first, the underlying social welfare issue of the dental caries childhood epidemic is discussed throughout the chapters; second, the prevalence of anticipatory anxiety and situational fear (AA&SF) as an expressed emotion to perceived negative stimuli is discussed as a barrier to preventative health and wellness. Though explored in the dental clinic, AA&SF is experienced in multiple environments, thus the research herein may be generalizable to other situations. Third, the integration of AAI in social work practice is addressed as an opportunity for social welfare research and practice. And fourth, the empirical study utilized a newly refined biomarker measure for salivary oxytocin and assessed change over time. The use of a biomarker measure provides quantitative rigor to the predominantly qualitative field of AAI, and potentially advances the trans-disciplinary knowledge base about oxytocin. Thus, the research study is formed by merging dental health, AA&SF, biomarker, and AAI.
Kathleeen Farkas, PhD (Committee Chair)
Masahiro Heima, DDS, PhD (Committee Member)
David Hussey, PhD (Committee Member)
David Crampton, PhD (Committee Member)
206 p.
Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Dentistry; Social Research; Social Work; Veterinary Services
attachment theory, human-animal interaction, animal-assisted intervention, oxytocin, feasibility, dental fear, situational fear, anticipatory anxiety

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Vincent, A. (2019). Feasibility of Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1554476390381119

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Vincent, Aviva. Feasibility of Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry. 2019. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1554476390381119.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Vincent, Aviva. "Feasibility of Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1554476390381119

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1554476390381119
295
© 2019, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Feasibility of Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry by Aviva Vincent is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.