Background: The physical benefits for patients who spend time with a therapy dog have been reported, including decreased anxiety. Pet therapy has decreased anxiety in various hospitalized patient populations. The human-animal bond is the foundation for the positive interaction therapy dogs create.
Aims: This study's purpose was to explore the use of pet therapy as an intervention to decrease patients' anxiety levels on two diverse inpatient units: Behavioral Health (BHU) and Pediatrics (PEDS).
Methods: This was a quantitative study using a convenience sample, with systematic assignment to the experimental and control group. The State Anxiety Scale (SAS), a 6-item, Likert-type Short Form version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, was used with adults and children; a Pediatric Emoji Method was constructed to assist children with the SAS. After consent, both groups completed the SAS pretest. Intervention patients then spent up to 15 minutes with a therapy dog and handler. The SAS posttest was completed 1 hour later by the experimental and control group. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used, including an independent samples test, paired-sample test, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, and Spearman correlation coefficients.
Results: Findings revealed that the therapy dog visitations had a positive effect on lowering anxiety supporting the hypothesis. Both the PEDS and BHU participants experienced a significant decrease in their anxiety level following the dog visits.
Conclusion: Patients on the BHU and PEDS units benefitted from their visit with a therapy dog by experiencing a decrease in their anxiety level.
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