Canine-Assisted Therapy Improves Well-Being in Nurses.

Kristýna Machová,Zdislava Vaníčková,Radka Procházková,Kamal Mezian,Michaela Součková

doi:10.3390/ijerph16193670

Abstract

As nursing is one of the most stressful occupations worldwide, its management warrants more attention to identify possible ways to cope with its pressures. This study aims to evaluate whether animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with the presence of a dog affects the stress level of nurses. As a stress biomarker, we used salivary cortisol level testing. Twenty female nurses (mean age: 30) in physical medicine (PMR) (n = 11) and the department of internal medicine and long-term care (IM < C) (n = 9). On each of the three observed days, saliva was collected at 10 a.m. and then again after 50 min. The first sampling was performed during a normal working process without a break (Condition A), the second was carried out during a normal working process with a break of choice (Condition B), and the third sampling was performed during a normal working process with a break with AAT (Condition C). All participants were enrolled in all three interventional conditions in a randomized order. The results demonstrated the effect of a reduction of cortisol levels in Condition C, where AAT was included (p = 0.02) only in nurses recruited from the IM < C department. By way of explanation, nurses from the PMR department already showed low cortisol levels at baseline. We propose including AAT with a dog in healthcare facilities where nurses are at a high risk of stress.

Highlights

In recent decades, much attention has been paid to the impact of stress on human health and possible methods of stress control [1]
The results showed that there was a significant difference in the complete group of nurses (n = 19), demonstrating the effect on the reduction of cortisol levels in Condition C, i.e., the condition where
There was a significant difference in the animal-assisted therapy (AAT) inclusion

Summary

Introduction

Much attention has been paid to the impact of stress on human health and possible methods of stress control [1]. Short-term, mild, and stimulating stress may have a positive effect on humans. In this case, we are talking about eustress, which has sometimes been neglected in the literature [2]. Distress is a type of stress to which the individual finds himself or herself inadequately able to respond, to which response is unsustainable in the long term, and which results in impaired adaptation [4]. The factor determining whether a stressor will cause eustress or distress is an individual’s perception and interpretation of a situation. The perception of stress is determined by its duration, its source, manageability, and suitability [5]. There is only one physiological response to stress in

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