Changes in the Health Condition after Using a Service Dog of a Person with Complete C5 Spinal Cord Injury: A Qualitative Single Case Study.

Abstract

We report the changes in the health condition after using a service dog of a person with a complete C5 spinal cord injury (SCI). A 48-year-old married man began using a service dog after suffering a complete C5 SCI. We conducted a semi-structured interview based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) rehabilitation sets to describe the change in the participant's experience after using a service dog. The interview was converted into written form, and information regarding the changes in the participant's health condition was extracted. These data were categorized by similarity and then classified by the ICF conceptual framework. The participant experienced multiple changes in his health condition after using a service dog. These included the following factors from the ICF - "Body Function" category: "increased vitality and motivation," "emergence of self-affirmation," and "physical improvement." Health changes form the "Activities and Participation" category included: "emergence of new roles," "increased resilience," "expansion of moving area," "acquisition of activities incorporated with a service dog assist," "emergence of autonomous health management," "expansion of relation with other people," and "expansion of social activity." The participant experienced "reduction of psychological barriers," categorized under "Personal Factor," and "expansion of support environment," categorized under "Environmental Factor."