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Therapy Dogs in the Emergency Department

Nickolas J. Nahm,J. Lubin,J. Lubin,Blake Bankwitz,McAllister Castelaz,X. Chen,Joel C. Shackson,M. Aggarwal,V. Totten

Published 2012 in Western Journal of Emergency Medicine

ABSTRACT

Introduction This study examined acceptance by staff and patients of a therapy dog (TD) in the emergency department (ED). Methods Immediately after TD visits to a University Hospital ED, all available ED staff, patients, and their visitors were invited to complete a survey. Results Of 125 “patient” and 105 staff responses, most were favorable. Ninety-three percent of patients and 95% of staff agreed that TDs should visit EDs; 87.8% of patients and 92% of staff approved of TDs for both adult and pediatric patients. Fewer than 5% of either patients or staff were afraid of the TDs. Fewer than 10% of patients and staff thought the TDs posed a sanitary risk or interfered with staff work. Conclusion Both patients and staff approve of TDs in an ED. The benefits of animal-assisted therapy should be further explored in the ED setting.

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