Completed research projects (selection)
TGI-MOOC - Teaching animal-assisted skills digitally (01/2023 - 12/2023)
In the project "TGI-MOOC - Teaching animal-assisted skills digitally" (funded by the Institute for Applied Research Berlin, follow-up project to the project "Animal-assisted interventions in therapeutic youth residential groups" completed in 2021), a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) for the implementation and execution of the dog-assisted intervention program "Berliner Schnauzen" in youth welfare was developed, tested and evaluated over the course of 2023. The target group are professionals who work with animal-assisted youth groups in various youth welfare contexts. The online course is available free of charge and open to all interested parties via the Bundesverband Tiergestützte Intervention e.V.: "Berliner Schnauzen" online course
Cooperation partners: Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Verein TierSucht e.V., Bundesverband Tiergestützte Intervention (BTI), Human-Animal Relationship Research Group at TU Dresden, Jugendhilfe in Lichtenberg - JuLi gGmbH
Project management: Sandra Wesenberg (ASH Berlin), Silke Gahleitner (ASH Berlin), Sigrid Betzelt (HWR Berlin)
Contact person for the human-animal relationship research group at TU Dresden: Frank Nestmann
Project funding: Institute for Applied Research Berlin (IFAF)
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Dog-assisted interventions in psychiatric care according to the Wedding model (04/2021 - 09/2023)
In the project "Dog-assisted interventions in psychiatric care according to the Wedding Model", the embedding of a dog-assisted offer in a specific psychiatric treatment concept (Wedding Model) in the clinics of the Theodor-Wenzel-Werk is being evaluated in close cooperation between various stakeholders from practice and research with regard to its potential for impact as well as the conditions for success and barriers (personnel, structural, conceptual). The core element of the Wedding Model is the promotion of individualized treatment for people with mental illness, geared towards the goals and expectations of the target group. The model is based on multi-professional, trialogically oriented cooperation and provides for the integration of various therapeutic elements, including a specific dog-assisted intervention in the TWW clinics. Within the project, this intervention and its integration into the overall treatment model will be evaluated using multiple methods and a scientifically sound and reflective further development of existing everyday practice will be sought.
The following specific questions are to be answered in the project:
- What conceptual links and connections exist between the Wedding model (as a specific model of psychiatric care) and dog-assisted interventions in general and the concrete, established dog-assisted intervention practice at TWW?
- How is dog-assisted intervention conceptually anchored in the Wedding Model?
- How is dog-assisted intervention embedded in the structures and what assumptions and expectations do the various stakeholders involved have?
- How do the clients and professional helpers experience and assess the animal-assisted intervention?
- What conditions for success and barriers (personnel, structural, conceptual) currently exist and what recommendations can be derived for the further development of dog-assisted intervention?
The necessary data will be collected in the form of an analysis of existing conceptual foundations, problem-centered expert interviews and two questionnaire surveys. The project is being carried out in cooperation between the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin and the clinics at Theodor Wenzel Werk. The process is being supported by the Human-Animal Relations research group at TU Dresden and the research group of the Federal Association for Animal Assisted Intervention.
Cooperation partners: Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Clinics at Theodor Wenzel Werk Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Project management: Sandra Wesenberg (ASH Berlin)
Design, implementation and evaluation: Lieselotte Mahler, Anna Oster, Kathrin Wachholz (Kliniken im Theodor-Wenzel-Werk), Sandra Wesenberg, Annett Eckloff, Franziska Schilling (Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin), Ute Hanika (University of Hildesheim), Sophie Asmus (Friedrich Schiller University Jena), Christoph Müller (King's College London)
Project funding: Internal research funding of ASH Berlin
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Animal-assisted interventions in therapeutic youth residential groups (TGI-TWG) (04/2019 - 12/2021)
The project focused on the impact and effects of dog-assisted interventions in therapeutic residential groups for adolescents. The project also aimed to consider the conditions for success and the barriers to 'successful' animal-assisted work with this specific target group and in this setting. The project also aimed to develop proposals on how a gender- and trauma-sensitive dog-assisted intervention program (in a small group setting) can be designed and successfully implemented for therapeutic residential groups for young people.
The methodological approach was based on the criteria of a mixed-method study in accordance with the multidimensional research question, with which qualitative and quantitative conditions for the success of dog-assisted interventions in therapeutic residential groups were worked out in a target group-oriented manner along the needs of animal-assisted work. In addition to the young people themselves, the project also involved the young people's caregivers, managers, specialists in animal-assisted interventions and other proven experts.
The project was funded by the Institute for Applied Research Berlin (IFAF Berlin) and carried out as a cooperation project between ASH Berlin, HWR Berlin and six practice partners from Berlin. The Human-Animal Relationship Research Group at TU Dresden provided continuous support and advice throughout the entire project period in the design, implementation and evaluation of the animal-assisted intervention.
Project management: Sandra Wesenberg (ASH Berlin), Silke Gahleitner (ASH Berlin), Sigrid Betzelt (HWR Berlin)
Project consultant: Frank Nestmann (TU Dresden)
Scientific Advisory Board: PD Dr. Andrea Beetz (University of Rostock), Christiane Friese (JuLi, Berlin), Dr. Lisa-Maria Glenk (Messerli Research Institute Vienna), Ingeborg Andrea de Hair (AATLA, Halle/Westphalia), Dr. Karin Hediger (University of Basel), Polli Hornung (University Hospital Dresden), Dr. Christoph Müller (King's College London), Dr. Kristina Saumweber (ITTP, Grafenau), Dr. Lena Scheidig (TU Dresden), Dr. Rainer Wohlfarth (Ani.Motion, Sasbachwalden),
Conception, implementation and evaluation: Annett Eckloff, Conny Bredereck, Marilena de Andrade, Joana Lanwehr, Sandra Wesenberg, Silke Gahleitner, Claudia Gather, Svenja Martikke, Sigrid Betzelt, Claudia Gather
The project results have been published by ZKS Verlag für psychosoziale Medien and are available free of charge as a pdf file: E-Book (free of charge)
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Use of assistance dogs in Germany (online survey) (01/2018 - 06/2019)
For people with various physical, mental or cognitive impairments, the support of an assistance dog can make a decisive contribution to them being able to independently and autonomously manage everyday tasks and participate in social life. In Germany, there is hardly any data on the use of assistance dogs for various impairments, disabilities and illnesses, on the training of dogs, on standards and costs for different areas of use and on the social acceptance of assistance dogs.
In the fall of 2018, the association Associata-Assistenzhunde e.V. conducted a comprehensive online survey of assistance dog owners and various stakeholders involved in the training of assistance dogs in order to collect reliable data on the topic of "assistance dogs". The questionnaire was created and the data collected was analyzed in cooperation with the Human-Animal Relationship Research Group at TU Dresden.
The results point to a highly heterogeneous training and practice landscape and impressively illustrate the need to establish uniform legal framework conditions and binding standards.
Project sponsor: Associata-Assistenzhunde e.V.
Conception and evaluation: Thomas Hansen, Ilona Bartels, Judith Bartels (Associata-Assistenzhunde e.V.); Mandy Weber, Frank Nestmann, Sandra Wesenberg
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'Mopsfidel und Pudelwohl' - Evaluation of an animal-assisted intervention program in Dresden prison (05/2016 - 01/2019)
Since 2016, a dog visitation program has been developed, implemented and scientifically monitored/evaluated in Dresden Prison for incarcerated men (in the first round completed in 2017, prisoners with ordered or reserved preventive detention). The objectives of the one-year programme include improving emotional well-being, promoting interaction and communication, improving social skills and activating and promoting the willingness of prisoners with significant attachment and relationship deficits to participate in all resocialization activities. The intervention program was designed and tested in terms of content and thematic structure, methodological and practical design, procedural structure and systematic evaluation by several employees of the prison, two specialist mentors for animal-assisted intervention (dogs), the human-animal relationships research group and with the involvement of the interests of the prisoners involved. Two human-dog teams work together in weekly visits, alternating between five and a maximum of six participants - in exercises, games, theoretical and creative work on the dog and the human-animal relationship as well as socio-emotional interaction with the dog in the group and in individual contact. Methods are used to ensure transfer to everyday life on the ward.
In a systematic formative and summative evaluation, multi-method quantitative and qualitative data on psychological, social/behavioral and 'general' effects were collected and analyzed with regard to developments in the group and in individual cases.
In light of the key findings from the 2017 pilot phase, the program was continued in 2018 and 2019 with new groups of participants.
The results of the pilot phase will be published in an anthology at the end of 2019.
The project was funded by the Saxon State Ministry of Justice.
Project coordination: Anja Kirsten (Dresden Prison)
Design, implementation and evaluation: Lena Scheidig (with therapy companion dog Tarana), Polli Hornung (with therapy companion dog Brezel), Sandra Wesenberg, Frank Nestmann, internal project group at Dresden Prison
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Human Animal Interaction (HAI) with dogs in retirement homes in Europe (11/2017 - 01/2019)
In this project, funded by the CNSA (Caisse nationale de solidarité pour l'autonomie), a network of European researchers and practitioners (from France, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany) worked together to comparatively examine the state of animal-assisted practice in retirement homes in the various partner countries.
In several group discussions and workshops in Kunheim and Clermont Ferrand (France), Padua (Italy), Utrecht (Netherlands) and Berlin (Germany), the respective national legal framework conditions and the spread of animal-assisted work in residential care for the elderly as well as corresponding country-specific standards of training and quality assurance were presented and discussed. In addition, field data was collected and comparatively evaluated in all partner countries during observations in retirement homes where dog-assisted work is carried out.
In a follow-up project, best practice examples, conclusions and suggestions for improving and harmonizing the various practices, standards and evaluation tools will be developed and published in an open source white book.
In addition to Frank Nestmann and Sandra Wesenberg, who are involved in the project as scientists, the Berlin-based association Leben mit Tieren e.V. was significantly involved as a practice partner in Germany.
Project management: Didier Vernay (Clermont-Ferrand, France)
Project partners from Germany: Sandra Wesenberg, Frank Nestmann, Leben mit Tieren e.V.
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Animal-assisted intervention for dementia patients (01/2010 - 06/2012)
In the DFG research project "Animal-assisted intervention for dementia patients" (led by Vjera Holthoff and Frank Nestmann), the beneficial effects of a targeted and structured dog-assisted intervention program on people with dementia were investigated. 35 people with a diagnosis of mild to moderate dementia took part in the program for 6 or 12 months. A further 20 patients with the same clinical picture acted as a study control group without intervention participation.
The animal-assisted program was carried out weekly in a group setting with 5 participants each in two retirement homes in Dresden. Over a period of 6 and 12 months, the effects of the regular human-animal interventions on symptoms, well-being, emotional, social and cognitive skills and quality of life were recorded using various qualitative and quantitative data collection methods (including videography; non-participant observation; psychological test procedures; standardized external and self-assessment questionnaires).
While long-term changes in dementia symptoms and skills could not be documented and there were no differences between the intervention and control groups with regard to the parameters recorded (including cognitive performance, everyday skills, quality of life), the data analysis emphatically demonstrated a wide range of short-term psychosocial effects of the human-animal encounters on the participants (including improvement in well-being, increase in social contacts, promotion of motivation).
The project was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Project management: Frank Nestmann, Vjera Holthoff
Design, implementation and evaluation: Antje Beckmann, Antje Gerner, Kira Marschner, Jillian Werner, Sandra Wesenberg, Frank Nestmann, Vjera Holthoff
----------------------Pets at the Johanniter Stift Dohna Heidenau. An investigation into the positive effects of animal-assisted work in geriatric care (01/2006 - 04/2009)
In the study "Pets at the Johanniter Stift Dohna-Heidenau" (project management: Frank Nestmann, project coordination: Antje Beckmann), the effects of animal-assisted intervention on elderly people and people suffering from dementia in an inpatient facility for the elderly were examined in a differentiated manner. Over a period of three years, the extent to which various forms of regular contact with animals (including alpacas, guinea pigs, tortoises and a visiting dog) had an impact on the quality of life, everyday skills and health of the residents of the retirement home was assessed every six months. The question of the extent to which the presence of animals with the residents has a positive effect on the coexistence of heterogeneous groups of people (e.g. people in various stages of dementia) was also taken into account.
In order to be able to systematically test the effect of human-animal encounters on well-being and health, the study was also designed as a comparison between nursing home residents with and without animal contact. For this purpose, residents of another nursing home run by the same organization, in which animals are not permitted, were included as a control group (matched for age, gender and medical condition). The evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative data collected indicates a variety of effects of regular human-animal interactions on communication and social behavior, independence and mobility of the residents.
Project management: Frank Nestmann
Conception, implementation and evaluation: Antje Beckmann, Frank Nestmann