Perceptions and Practices of Key Worker Stakeholder Groups in Hospital Animal-Assisted Intervention Programs on...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Animal-Assisted Interventions

Background:

• Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are increasingly used for healthcare workers (HCW) to mitigate occupational stress.
• Infectious disease concerns present a significant barrier to the widespread utilization of AAI for both patients and HCW.
• Understanding barriers and facilitators is crucial for effective AAI program implementation in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers and facilitators for AAI program use benefiting HCW.
• To determine knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding infectious disease risks and control policies related to AAI.
• To understand contextual parameters for successful AAI program implementation in hospitals.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders involved in hospital AAI programs.
• Participants included healthcare workers and animal-assisted intervention workers.
• Framework analysis guided thematic coding, performed independently by three researchers.

Main Results:

• 37 participants were interviewed, with themes divided into program use for HCW and perceived infectious disease risk.
• Benefits for HCW were noted, but limited by administrative barriers and hazard concerns.
• Key facilitators include inter-departmental collaboration and strong leadership for safe program implementation.

Conclusions:

• Administrative and infection-related hazards limit the benefits of AAI for HCW.
• Effective facilitators involve hospital-wide collaboration and leadership to ensure safe AAI program implementation.
• Evidence-based guidelines are essential to address barriers and maximize AAI benefits for both patients and HCW.