Abstract：
UNASSIGNED: Assistance dogs can provide many health and wellbeing benefits to people with disability, however challenges remain. Assistance dog providers provide crucial support to assistance dog handlers, however limited literature exists exploring their experience working with people with disability. This study aimed to understand the experiences of assistance dog providers working in Australia.
UNASSIGNED: Twelve assistance dog providers participated in semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts.
UNASSIGNED: Five themes emerged describing the participant experience. Theme one discussed instances of discrimination experienced by assistance dog handlers, stemming from the lack of public awareness. Theme two captured the inconsistencies regarding the training of assistance dog providers with a specific focus on the gaps in the disability specific knowledge. Theme three emphasised the lack of clarity regarding legislation outlining the training requirements of assistance dog providers and the public access rights of the handlers. Theme four emphasised funding barriers, and theme five discussed barriers to interprofessional collaboration between assistance dog providers and allied health professionals.
UNASSIGNED: These findings contribute to understanding the current barriers experienced by assistance dog providers and assistance dog handlers, as well as the legislative changes required to better support people with disability.
Increasing evidence suggests that assistance dogs may provide benefits for people with disability, however challenges remain.There is a need for national and international legislation outlining the definition of an assistance dog, the training requirements of assistance dog providers, as well as the public access rights of assistance dog handlers.Assistance dog providers require structured education opportunities supporting their knowledge of disability to support assistance dog handlers most effectively.Interprofessional practice between assistance dog providers and allied health professionals has the potential to result in greater client-centred care.
UNASSIGNED: Twelve assistance dog providers participated in semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts.
UNASSIGNED: Five themes emerged describing the participant experience. Theme one discussed instances of discrimination experienced by assistance dog handlers, stemming from the lack of public awareness. Theme two captured the inconsistencies regarding the training of assistance dog providers with a specific focus on the gaps in the disability specific knowledge. Theme three emphasised the lack of clarity regarding legislation outlining the training requirements of assistance dog providers and the public access rights of the handlers. Theme four emphasised funding barriers, and theme five discussed barriers to interprofessional collaboration between assistance dog providers and allied health professionals.
UNASSIGNED: These findings contribute to understanding the current barriers experienced by assistance dog providers and assistance dog handlers, as well as the legislative changes required to better support people with disability.
Increasing evidence suggests that assistance dogs may provide benefits for people with disability, however challenges remain.There is a need for national and international legislation outlining the definition of an assistance dog, the training requirements of assistance dog providers, as well as the public access rights of assistance dog handlers.Assistance dog providers require structured education opportunities supporting their knowledge of disability to support assistance dog handlers most effectively.Interprofessional practice between assistance dog providers and allied health professionals has the potential to result in greater client-centred care.
摘要：
援助犬可以为残疾人提供许多健康和福利，然而，挑战依然存在。援助犬提供者为援助犬管理员提供关键支持，然而，有限的文献存在探索他们与残疾人一起工作的经验。这项研究旨在了解在澳大利亚工作的援助犬提供者的经验。
■12名援助犬提供者参加了半结构化访谈。使用归纳主题分析来分析转录本。
■出现了描述参与者体验的五个主题。主题一讨论了援助犬管理员所经历的歧视实例，由于缺乏公众意识。主题2捕获了有关培训援助犬提供者的不一致之处，并特别关注残疾特定知识的差距。主题三强调立法缺乏明确性，概述了援助犬提供者的培训要求和处理者的公共访问权。主题四强调资金障碍，主题五讨论了援助犬提供者和专职医疗专业人员之间跨专业合作的障碍。
■这些发现有助于理解当前援助犬提供者和援助犬管理员所经历的障碍，以及为更好地支持残疾人而需要的立法改革。
越来越多的证据表明，援助犬可以为残疾人提供福利，然而，挑战依然存在。有必要制定国家和国际立法，概述援助犬的定义，援助犬提供者的培训要求，以及援助犬管理员的公共访问权。援助犬提供者需要结构化的教育机会来支持他们的残疾知识，以最有效地支持援助犬管理员。援助犬提供者和专职医疗专业人员之间的跨专业实践有可能导致更大的以客户为中心的护理。
■12名援助犬提供者参加了半结构化访谈。使用归纳主题分析来分析转录本。
■出现了描述参与者体验的五个主题。主题一讨论了援助犬管理员所经历的歧视实例，由于缺乏公众意识。主题2捕获了有关培训援助犬提供者的不一致之处，并特别关注残疾特定知识的差距。主题三强调立法缺乏明确性，概述了援助犬提供者的培训要求和处理者的公共访问权。主题四强调资金障碍，主题五讨论了援助犬提供者和专职医疗专业人员之间跨专业合作的障碍。
■这些发现有助于理解当前援助犬提供者和援助犬管理员所经历的障碍，以及为更好地支持残疾人而需要的立法改革。
越来越多的证据表明，援助犬可以为残疾人提供福利，然而，挑战依然存在。有必要制定国家和国际立法，概述援助犬的定义，援助犬提供者的培训要求，以及援助犬管理员的公共访问权。援助犬提供者需要结构化的教育机会来支持他们的残疾知识，以最有效地支持援助犬管理员。援助犬提供者和专职医疗专业人员之间的跨专业实践有可能导致更大的以客户为中心的护理。
