Therapy dogs in the emergency department

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Human-Animal Interaction

Background:

• Therapy dogs (TDs) are increasingly considered for integration into healthcare settings.
• The emergency department (ED) presents a unique environment for evaluating the acceptance of animal-assisted therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the acceptance of therapy dogs (TDs) by both patients and staff within an emergency department (ED) setting.
• To identify potential concerns related to the presence of therapy dogs in the ED.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to all available emergency department (ED) staff, patients, and visitors immediately following therapy dog visits.
• Data collected included opinions on the presence, approval, and potential risks associated with therapy dogs.

Main Results:

• Overwhelmingly favorable responses were received from both patients (93%) and staff (95%) regarding the presence of therapy dogs in the ED.
• High approval rates (patients: 87.8%, staff: 92%) were reported for using TDs with both adult and pediatric patients.
• Minimal concerns were noted regarding fear (fewer than 5%), sanitary risks, or interference with staff work (fewer than 10%).

Conclusions:

• Therapy dogs are well-accepted by both patients and staff in the emergency department (ED).
• The findings support the potential benefits of animal-assisted therapy in the ED and warrant further investigation.