Functional, Psychological, and Economic Benefits of Service Dog Partnership

Principal Investigators: Shirley Fitzgerald, PhD, Diane Collins, OTR/L

10/2002 – 9/2003

This is a one-year study was conducted to determine if wheelchair service dogs (SDs) enhance functional independence, promote better psychosocial well-being, and facilitate improved economic status for veterans with disabilities who use wheelchairs or scooters. Two hundred individuals were enrolled in the study, though eight participants were withdrawn for either not meeting study inclusion criteria or for not providing contact information. The subjects from this study were combined with the data from "The Epidemiology of Service Dogs," and the following results were found. One hundred, forty-five adults with service dogs were compared to 80 adults without service dogs. The groups differed demographically, as participants with service dogs were significantly older and had lived significantly longer with their disabilities than those not partnered with service dogs. Functional performance was defined as the Physical Independence and Mobility scores on the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique. Though similar in Physical Independence scores, participants with service dogs scored significantly higher on Mobility. Thus, service dogs may be a viable intervention to improve the mobility of individuals who use wheelchairs or scooters. Additional analyses are underway to determine with differences may be found in the psychological variables of depression, loneliness, and self-esteem.