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Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association2012; 32(4); 418-432; doi: 10.1037/a0029188

A systematic review of effectiveness of complementary and adjunct therapies and interventions involving equines.

Abstract: This systematic review examines the empirical literature in an emerging body of evidence for the effectiveness of biopsychosocial interventions involving equines across populations with chronic illness or health challenges. Methods: Selected quantitative studies published in peer-reviewed journals were reviewed for inclusion; the gray literature and white papers were also explored. Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) criteria and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) were applied to all studies. Fourteen full reports meeting a priori inclusion criteria were extracted from 103 studies accessed through 16 electronic databases and a hand search. Data were synthesized in relation to three research questions informing evidence-based practice. Results: No randomized clinical trials were located. Two studies provided a moderate level of evidence for effectiveness. Nine studies demonstrated statistically significant positive effects. Three studies did not find significant psychosocial effects for the target group, although one found significant positive effects for the comparison group. Conclusions: In the aggregate, the evidence is promising in support of the effectiveness of complementary and adjunct interventions employing equines in the treatment of health challenges. Future studies are needed that utilize rigorous and creative designs, especially longitudinal studies and comparisons with established effective treatments.
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Publication Date: 2012-08-13 PubMed ID: 22888815DOI: 10.1037/a0029188Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article is a systematic review on how effective the use of equines (horses) are in certain therapies, particularly for individuals dealing with chronic illness or health challenges. The review analyzed various studies published in peer-reviewed journals and concluded that overall, therapies involving equines show promise for treating health challenges.

Methodology

  • The researchers employed a systematic literature review approach, examining both published empirical studies and gray literature (documents not controlled by commercial publishing) that deal with biopsychosocial interventions involving equines. This research focused on populations dealing with chronic illness or health challenges.
  • The Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) criteria were applied to all studies. This is a method used by researchers to formulate answerable research questions. It helps to identify the key components of a study and facilitates the literature search process.
  • The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach were also applied, which is a widely used system for rating the quality of evidence in systematic reviews.
  • Through 16 electronic databases and manual searching, the researchers accessed 103 studies; however, only 14 of those met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the final review.

Findings

  • The review found no randomized clinical trials; however, two studies presented a moderate level of evidence that therapies involving equines could be effective.
  • Out of the reviewed studies, nine showed statistically significant beneficial effects of such therapies, strengthening the argument for their potential effectiveness.
  • While three of the studies didn’t find significant psychosocial effects for the target group, one of those did observe significant positive impacts for the comparison group (a group that didn’t undergo the therapy but was assessed alongside the target group for comparison).

Overall Conclusion

  • Overall, the review concluded that therapies involving equines have potential as complementary treatments for health challenges, as the evidence, although somewhat limited, has generally been positive.
  • However, the resulting recommendation is that more research is needed, particularly rigorous, long-term studies and comparisons with other well-established treatments. This would help to further validate the potential benefits of horse-involved therapies

Cite This Article

APA
Selby A, Smith-Osborne A. (2012). A systematic review of effectiveness of complementary and adjunct therapies and interventions involving equines. Health Psychol, 32(4), 418-432. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029188

Publication

Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
ISSN: 1930-7810
NlmUniqueID: 8211523
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 4
Pages: 418-432

Researcher Affiliations

Selby, Alison
  • Child and Family Guidance Centers, Plano, Texas, USA.
Smith-Osborne, Alexa

    MeSH Terms

    • Animal Assisted Therapy / methods
    • Animals
    • Chronic Disease / therapy
    • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
    • Complementary Therapies / methods
    • Horses
    • Humans
    • Psychotherapy / methods
    • Treatment Outcome

    Citations

    This article has been cited 18 times.
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