Using Pet Therapy to Decrease Patients' Anxiety on Two Diverse Inpatient Units

Area of Science:

• Clinical Psychology
• Human-Animal Interaction
• Healthcare Interventions

Background:

• Physical benefits of therapy dogs, including anxiety reduction, are documented.
• Pet therapy has shown effectiveness in reducing anxiety across diverse hospitalized populations.
• The human-animal bond underpins the positive effects of therapy dog interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate pet therapy's efficacy in decreasing patient anxiety.
• To assess anxiety reduction in inpatient Behavioral Health (BHU) and Pediatrics (PEDS) units.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative study with systematic assignment to experimental and control groups.
• Utilized the State Anxiety Scale (SAS) with a Pediatric Emoji Method for children.
• Intervention involved 15-minute therapy dog visits; anxiety levels measured pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Therapy dog visitations positively impacted anxiety levels, supporting the study's hypothesis.
• Significant anxiety reduction was observed in both Pediatrics and Behavioral Health unit participants post-visit.

Conclusions:

• Patients on Behavioral Health and Pediatrics units experienced decreased anxiety following therapy dog visits.
• Pet therapy, facilitated by the human-animal bond, offers a beneficial intervention for hospitalized patients.