Learning from the Cultural Community of Service Dog Teams: Culturally Congruent Healthcare for Individuals Teamed with Service Dogs
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Abstract
Background: Individuals with disabilities have the right to be teamed with service dogs for support. Healthcare professionals must be prepared to provide culturally congruent care to service dog teams. To provide culturally congruent care attributes that describe a culture must be known. Little to date is known about the perspectives of individuals teamed with service dogs.
Purpose: This study examined characteristics of individuals teamed with service dogs, their perspectives on service dogs, benefits of their service dog, and experiences of receiving healthcare.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with individuals teamed with service dogs in the United States (N =270).
Discussion: While there is great diversity among individuals with disabilities within this culture is a community of individuals teamed with service dogs. Individuals teamed with service dogs, including those for vision and hearing, share attributes that describe them as a cultural community. This understanding is fundamental to culturally congruent care for service dog teams.
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