The Impact of Facility Dog Programming on Mood and Stress Among Healthcare Workers in Adult Inpatient Oncology Units
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Background and Purpose: Animal-assisted therapy has shown benefits for stress reduction among patients and families, however research among healthcare workers is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of interacting with a facility dog on mood and stress among healthcare workers in high acuity oncology units. Materials and Methods: Paws & Play: Care for Clinical Teams is a full-time facility dog program addressing staff well-being, burnout, and resilience within a 1,134-bed tertiary care teaching facility in New York City. This study measured hospital staff members’ mood (Brunel Mood Scale) and self-reported physical symptoms of stress immediately before and after interacting with the facility dog and therapeutic handler for approximately 20 minutes during the workday in high-acuity inpatient oncology units from November 2020 through July 2021. Results: Seventy-six staff members participated in the intervention. Statistically significant improvements in mood occurred across all 32 items and eight subscales of the Brunel Mood Scale, which showed increased feelings of calmness, happiness, and vigor, and decreased feelings of depression, fatigue, anger, confusion, and tension. Self-reported physical symptoms of stress, including dry mouth, fatigue, headache, elevated heart rate, muscular tension, heart palpitations, stomach upset, and sweating also decreased following interaction with the facility dog. Conclusion: Offering animal-assisted therapy during the workday can improve mood and reduce perceived symptoms of stress among healthcare providers in acute care. By reducing stress and improving mood, this therapeutic modality may aid in lowering burnout, increasing retention, and fostering resiliency in health care environments.
DOI: 10.29024/pins.62
Institution: Mount Sinai Health System
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4401028430