| Title: | The effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based pet therapy in improving the care of patients : a systematic review |
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| Authors: | ID Trajbarič, Tamara (Author)
ID Muršec, Dominika (Author)
ID Svenšek, Adrijana (Author)
ID Štiglic, Gregor (Author)
ID Gosak, Lucija (Author) |
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| Files: |  applsci-16-04683.pdf (709,69 KB)
MD5: 74A3A5FC4E81BDABFF11F6EF60627348
 https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104683
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Scientific work |
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| Typology: | 1.02 - Review Article |
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| Organization: | FZV - Faculty of Health Sciences
FERI - Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
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| Abstract: | Animal-assisted interventions can support emotional well-being and social engagement, but their use may be limited by allergies, infection risks, and animal-handling requirements. As a scalable alternative, artificial intelligence-based pet therapy, including socially assistive and robotic pets, has been introduced in health care and community settings. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, searched PubMed, CINAHL Ultimate/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and SAGE for studies published between 2014 and 2025 that evaluated the reported effects of AI-based pet therapy on patient outcomes. Of the 584 records identified, 27 studies met the inclusion criteria after duplicate removal and screening. Most studies involved older adults with dementia, although children, veterans, and community-dwelling adults were also represented. Across studies, AI-based pet therapy was associated with reduced agitation, anxiety, stress, and pain, as well as improved mood, communication, and social engagement. PARO was the most frequently studied robotic pet, and interventions were typically delivered 1–3 times weekly for 30–60 min over 4–12 weeks. Overall, AI-based pet therapy appears to be a promising complementary non-pharmacological approach, particularly for people with dementia and hospitalized children, although stronger evidence from larger, more standardized, and longer-term studies is still needed. |
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| Keywords: | artificial intelligence, socially assistive robots, robotic pets, animal-assisted therapy, dementia, mental health, patient care |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 06.05.2026 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 06.05.2026 |
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| Publication date: | 09.05.2026 |
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| Publisher: | MDPI |
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| Year of publishing: | 2026 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 1-24 |
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| Numbering: | Letn. 16, št. 10, št. članka 4683 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-98055  |
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| UDC: | 004.8:615.85:613.86:616-083 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2076-3417 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 277686787 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/app16104683 |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 12.05.2026 |
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| Views: | 185 |
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| Downloads: | 12 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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