PUPPY Program

Background
Employee burnout and its associated consequences is a significant problem in the healthcare workforce. Workplace animal therapy programs offer a potential strategy for improving employee well-being; however, research on animal therapy programs for healthcare workers is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary impact of an animal-assisted support program to improve healthcare employee well-being.
Methods
In this mixed-methods pilot intervention study, we implemented an animal-assisted support program in a multidisciplinary healthcare clinic at a large VA hospital. The program included 20 sessions over 3 months, each approximately 1-h long. Real-time mood data were collected from participants immediately before and after each session. Participation rates were tracked in real time and self-reported at follow-up. Data on burnout and employee perceptions of the program were collected upon completion via a survey and semi-structured interviews. Differences in mood and burnout pre/post program participation were assessed with t-tests.
Results
Participation was high; about 51% of clinic employees (n = 39) participated in any given session, averaging participation in 9/20 sessions. Mood (on a scale of 1 = worst to 5 = best mood) significantly improved from immediately before employees interacted with therapy dogs (M = 2.9) to immediately after (M = 4.5) (p = 0.000). Employees reported significantly lower levels of patient-related burnout (e.g., how much exhaustion at work relates to interaction with patients) after (M = 18.0 vs. before, M = 40.0) participating (p = 0.002). Qualitative findings suggested that employees were highly satisfied with the program, noticed an improved clinic atmosphere, and experienced a reduction in stress and boost in mood.
Conclusions
Establishing an animal-assisted support program for employees in a busy healthcare clinic is feasible and acceptable. Our pilot data suggest that animal-assisted programs could be a means to boost mood and decrease facets of burnout among healthcare employees.

Rank: 98

First Author: Etingen

Outcome: Burnout,Intervention Experience,Affect

Outcome p-value: Burnout:⭑⭑, Intervention Experience:●, Affect:⭑⭑⭑

Intervention Category: Reflection and Relaxation

Time per Employee (hours): 20

Hours per Employee: 20

D&B Study Quality Rating: 11

Reviewer Confidence: 2

Country: US

Study Design Type: Quasi-experimental

Materials Available to Implement: Intervention is fully described in publication. Corresponding author: Bella.Etingen@va.gov

Materials Available: yes

Organiz./Individ. Focus: Individual

Prevention Category: Secondary

Effect size Small:

Effect size Medium:

Reference: Etingen, B., Martinez, R. N., Smith, B. M., Hogan, T. P., Miller, L., Saban, K. L., Irvin, D., Jankowski, B., & Weaver, F. M. (2020). Developing an animal-assisted support program for healthcare employees. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 714. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05586-8