Intervención psicooncológica asistida con caballos: determinación del nivel de eficacia y de los elementos terapéuticos de la terapia asistida con caballos en pacientes afectadas de cáncer de mama.

Abstract

The aim of the thesis “Equine-assisted psycho-oncological intervention: determination of the therapeutic elements and level of efficacy of equine-assisted therapy in breast cancer patients” is to determine whether equine-assisted interventions (EAI) applied in the oncological context are safe and effective, and to define the therapeutic mechanisms they involve and their effects. To do so, a randomized clinical study using mixed methods is carried out with a sample of breast cancer patients who have completed treatment in the last two months. The results determine that EAI applied to this type of patient are safe and effective in improving physical and emotional aspects and role performance, as well as producing a decrease in symptoms such as fatigue and insomnia, and an improvement in the perception of body image and future perspective. In qualitative terms, we observe a very positive experience for the patients and, in addition, continuing effects over time and an impact on their everyday lives. The mechanisms are identified by means of a focus group with experts in psycho-oncology who determine that EAI involve therapeutic elements of psycho-oncological interventions, highlighting the mechanism of physical exercise carried out in a natural environment, mindfulness, acceptance therapy strategies and control of activation. Given the loss of the control group in the clinical study, the meta-analysis methodology serves to compare the quantitative results with the data present in the bibliography. The meta-analyses carried out serve to determine that EAI have an effect similar to that of interventions based on exercise and superior to that based on psycho-oncological interventions, possibly due to the fact that physical activity and the natural environment are incorporate._x000D_ In short, this thesis is pioneering in its demonstration of both the safety of EAI in the context of breast cancer rehabilitation and its efficacy in the management of symptoms and quality of life in the survival period. Finally, it is important to highlight the impact of this thesis in the field of EAI, given the absence of previous scientific evidence that demonstrates the safety and efficacy of their application in the oncological context, in addition to demonstrating the involvement of the oncology nursing professional as a prominent role in the application of equine-assisted interventions for cancer patients.

Date of Award	4 Jul 2023
Original language	Spanish
Supervisor	Tomas Blasco Blasco (Director)