Therapy Dogs During In-Office Laryngologic Procedures: A Pilot Study

To evaluate the association between interaction with a certified therapy dog prior to awake, in-office laryngologic procedures and patient-reported anxiety, depression, and pain compared with standard care.

This was a prospective pilot study of adult patients undergoing in-office laryngologic procedures. Participants completed pre- and post- assessments of anxiety, depression, and pain. Patients who were seen with certified therapy dogs comprised the canine group and were compared with a control group of patients who were not seen with therapy dogs. Group differences were assessed using independent-samples t tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for nonparametric data. Within-group changes were analyzed with paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Group × time interactions were assessed using mixed two-way ANOVA.

Fifty patients were included (31 canine, 19 control). Baseline demographics were similar between groups. In the canine cohort, anxiety and depression decreased significantly following the procedure, while pain showed a nonsignificant reduction. In the control group, anxiety decreased significantly, but pain and depression did not change significantly. Post-procedure pain and depression were significantly lower in the canine group compared with controls. "Significant group × time interactions were observed for anxiety, pain, and depression."

Patients who interacted with therapy dogs was associated with lower patient-reported anxiety and depression, supporting the use of therapy dog programs to improve patient experience during in-office procedures. These findings support further investigation of animal-assisted interventions using randomized study designs and validated outcome measures.