HIV/AIDS
Introduction to the Foundation of Dr. Dell's Work & outputs
Studying Animal-Assisted Services as a support for individuals at risk for HIV/AIDS.
A BIT OF HISTORY Dr. Dell's Founding Research Question: Do Animals Help Individuals Who are at Risk for HIV/AIDS?
A BIT OF HISTORY Dr. Dell's Founding Research Question: Do Animals Help Individuals Who are at Risk for HIV/AIDS?
A BIT OF HISTORY Dr. Dell's Founding Research Question: Do Animals Help Individuals Who are at Risk for HIV/AIDS?
- In 2016 Dr. Dell began offering Animal-Assisted Support Programs and Animal-Assisted Therapy with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (Saskatoon) Opioid Assisted Recovery Services (OARS).
- That same year her team was awarded a flipped science project, funded by Universities Without Walls, to examine the impact of a visiting St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog with clients in highest need for motivation related to their HIV and/or addiction status. The project is outlined in a video here.
- A follow-up to this project was two 8-week Animal Assisted Therapy sessions with OARS clients. Dr. Dell published about her experience through the lens of Anna-Belle the Therapy Dog. Dr. Darlene Chalmers worked with Subie the Therapy Dog.
- Since this initial study Dr. Dell has worked with honours student Brynne Kosteniuk at OARS to examine the role of companion animals in recovery from substance use problems. Her and a team at the University of Alberta are undertaking a qualitative systematic review of the experiences and perceptions of health care professionals and staff with animal-assisted services.
- Dr. Dell is currently building on this work with her team to study the impact of companion animals for Veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and who problematically use substances.
- Dr. Dell was a long-term member of the Communities, Alliances and Networks Mobilizing Indigenous STBBI Research team, which aimed to organize, review and put into action past CAAN project knowledge mobilization strategies.
- Dr. Dell is currently part of a team that submitted a paper to Harm Reduction Journal from work undertaken at Prairie Harm Reduction, titled "Reducing Harm by Increasing Awareness in the Substance Use Field".
Output Highlights
A BIT OF HISTORY Dr. Dell's Founding Research Question: Do Animals Help Individuals Who are at Risk for HIV/AIDS?
A BIT OF HISTORY Dr. Dell's Founding Research Question: Do Animals Help Individuals Who are at Risk for HIV/AIDS?
Academic Publications
- Beck, A., Berber, B., McKenzie, H., Thorlakson, J., Dell, C., Keeping-Burke, L. (2022). “Perceptions and Experiences of Health Care Professionals and Staff with Animal-Assisted Interventions in Health Care Settings: A Systematic Review Protocol of Qualitative Evidence”. JBI Evidence Synthesis.
- Kosteniuk, B.and Dell, C. 2020. "How Companion Animals Support Recovery from Opioid Addiction: An Exploratory Study of Patients in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program". APORIA
Journal. 12(1): 91-108. - Anna-Belle the Therapy Dog, with the assistance of C. Dell, G. Sewap, B. McAllister, J. Bachiu. 2018. “She Makes Me Feel Comfortable”: Understanding the Impacts of Animal Assisted Therapy at a Methadone Clinic”. Canadian Journal of Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research. 9:57-65.
Video
- Dell, C., Acoose, S., Butt, P., Chalmers, D., Downe, P., Husband, A., Balysky, A. 2016. “Providing PAWS-itive Support”. Universities Without Walls.
Presentations
- Kosteniuk, B., and Dell, C. 2018. “How Companion Animals Support Recovery from Opioid Addiction: An Exploratory Study of Patients in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program”. Poster Presentation. Issues of Substance – Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Ottawa, ON.
- Dell, C. & Anna-Belle (St. John Ambulance therapy dog). 2014. “Animal Assisted Interventions in the Mental Health and Addictions Fields”. Psychiatry Academic Research Day, Saskatoon Health Region & University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, SK.
Addiction Research Chair Outcomes
Dr. Dell's work is informed by research undertaken during her Addiction Research Chair (2007-2016)
Highlights of Dr. Dell's work during this time include:
- Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network Research Project Team & Espey, S. (C. Dell co-PI). 2015. Video Summaries 1-9. Our team produced 9 one-minute videos to relay our research findings on social media.
- Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network Research Project Team & S. Espey. (C. Dell co-PI). 2013. The Experiences of Being Peer Research Associates & Key Research Findings. Our team produced this 13 minute video to relay both our community-based research process and findings.
- Taghizadeh Asl, R., B. Eshrati, C. Dell▪, K. Taylor, P. Afshar, M. Kamali, A. Mirzazadeh. 2013. “Outcome Assessment of Triangular Clinics as a Harm Reduction Intervention in Rajaee-Shahr Prison, Iran”. Journal of Harm Reduction. 10:41, pp. 1-12.
- Eshrati, B., R. Taghizadeh Asl, C. Dell, P. Afshar, P. Millson, M. Kamali, J. Weekes. 2008. “Preventing HIV Transmission Among Iranian Prisoners: Initial Support for Providing Education on the Benefits of Harm Reduction Practices”. Harm Reduction Journal. 5(21), pp. 1-7.
- MORE PAST ACHIEVEMENTS COMING SOON!
Photo Gallery
Funders & Supporters
Department of Sociology, School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan; Methadone Assisted Recovery Services, Saskatoon Health Region; Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina; St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program (Saskatchewan); Universities Without Walls.