Perception of the benefits of pet ownership in patients with cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Introduction: Pets have played an important role in the life of human beings. In dissimilar studies a beneficial effect in the prevention and recovery of physical and mental health has been shown. Objective: To describe the perception of the benefits of pet ownership in patients with cardiovascular disease. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted with 37 people that suffer from cardiovascular disease and brought their pets to the main clinic of affective pets in Havana between September and December 2012. A questionnaire was made in which the necessary aspects and socio-demographic data were assessed. Results: All persons admitted that they felt very satisfied or satisfied to share their lives with pets and that this relationship lavished them with a great benefit on their psycho-emotional health. In relation to the benefit for the treatment and control of cardiovascular disease every person admitted they were more motivated to take better care of themselves and 41 % felt motivated to perform physical activity (walking). Conclusions and recommendations: In the group studied there is a perception that pet ownership exerts beneficial effects on the physical and psycho-emotional health of the owner, and it was recommended to continue and expand research related to the topic, cover other sectors and increase the sample.