P021: A ‘Pawsitive’ addition to the ER patient experience: A pilot evaluation of the St. John Ambulance therapy dog program in a Canadian hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been applied in numerous clinical settings to help reduce pain, stress, and anxiety. This qualitative study sets out to evaluate the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program in the emergency department of the Royal University Hospital. Methods: An observer identified patients interested in visiting with a Therapy Dog during their emergency department stay and obtained consent. Participants were asked to indicate on a pictographic scale their physical and mental states before and after the visit. The Therapy Dog team, consisting of a dog and handler, visited the patient for 5-10 minutes. During this time an observer took notes. Participants were asked at the conclusion of the visit to answer questions regarding their overall experience with the Therapy Dog team. Results: 117 patients participated in this study. Pre- and post AAI pictographic faces [c1] scale results showed an average improvement of 1.2. Before AAI, patients most commonly reported feeling pain, anxiety, tiredness, sadness, boredom, weakness, and a desire to go home. Immediately after the AAI, they most commonly reported feeling happiness, relaxation, better, calmness, and good. Observers noted positive participant and family changes during the AAI, including tone of voice, body language, facial expression (e.g., smiling), and openness. Patients often made efforts to make physical contact for the majority of the visit, often despite pain and immobility. There was also frequent sharing of stories about patients’ pets, which seemed to serve as a comfort within the emergency department environment. Conclusion: Animal-assisted interventions with a therapy dog team in an emergency department is a ‘pawsitive’ addition to the patient experience. An important next step is to measure whether the positive impact continued post visit.