Clinical Interventions in Aging (Dec 2022)
Pet Insects May Improve Physical Performance and Sleep in Community-Dwelling Frail Elderly People with Chronic Diseases: A Single-Arm Interventional Pilot Study
Abstract
Ji-Yeon Park,1 Hae-Jin Ko,1,2 Ji-Eun Song,3 Sang-Min Ji,4 So-Yun Kim4 1Department of Family Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea; 2Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea; 3Department of Family Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea; 4Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, KoreaCorrespondence: Hae-Jin Ko, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, Korea, Tel +82-53-200-6578, Fax +82-53-200-5480, Email [email protected]: Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is an effective intervention that improves the mental and physical health. However, few have examined the efficacy of pet insects as a form of AAI for prefrail and frail elderly. This study aimed to ascertain the effects of pet insects on physical performance and psychological health in community-dwelling frail elderly individuals with a chronic disease.Patients and Methods: This study was an 8 week prospective single-arm interventional pilot study that enrolled prefrail and frail community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and older, all of whom had a chronic disease and attended a daycare facility. Pet insects and appropriate equipment were provided, and supporting programs were used to educate participants about how to rear the insects and how to get close to them. Pre- and post-interventional physical and psychological functions were evaluated.Results: A total of 23 subjects (mean age, 82.78 years) were enrolled in the final analysis. The timed up-and-go-test (TUG) was used to measure functional mobility, and grip strength was used as a measure of muscle strength; both showed significant changes after the 8-week intervention (Δ = − 0.35± 0.73 sec, P = 0.034; and Δ = 0.73± 0.99 kg, P = 0.002, respectively). In addition, the insomnia severity index (ISI) and average sleep duration improved significantly (Δ = − 2.91± 5.64, P = − 0.021; and Δ = 0.87± 1.98, P = 0.047, respectively). There were no significant changes in the results of other psychometric tests. Logistic regression analysis using the forward stepwise selection method revealed that the baseline ISI score and the absence of other comorbidities were significantly associated with the probability of positive changes in both the TUG and HS tests after the intervention.Conclusion: Pet insects may be an effective and easily applicable type of AAI, which improves physical function and sleep in prefrail and frail elderly individuals.Keywords: animal-assisted therapy, frail elderly, human-animal interaction, physical functional performance, sleep disorders
