Individuals in the medical group participated in longer 10-minute visits to the emergency rooms of hospitals. (credit: Reuters)
The study’s team of researchers analyzed the effects of interactions with therapy dogs. The report considers the experience of 198 patients in the emergency room of various hospitals in Canada.
Spending time with dogs not only helps to cope with stress and anxiety, but to the extent that it is medicinal, can also be beneficial in combating physical pain. The observations were made in the findings of a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Led by Professor Colleen Dale of the University of Saskatchewan, the study’s team of researchers analyzed the effects of interactions with therapy dogs. The report considers the experience of 198 patients in the emergency room of various hospitals in Canada.
Patients were asked to report their pain on a scale of 1 to 0, with 10 indicating the highest intensity of pain. They then split into two groups, and while one group received the companionship of the dogs, the other received no interference. A total of 97 patients were placed in the therapy group while others were placed in the control group. Individuals in the medical group participated in longer 10-minute visits to the emergency rooms of hospitals.
The report claimed that 43 percent of patients who visited therapy dogs experienced a reduction in physical pain, 48 percent reported a decline in anxiety, 46 percent reported less depression and 41 felt better well-being. .
However, there was no significant difference in the patients’ heart rate and blood pressure levels. The therapy dogs used for the study were first sanitized by healthcare workers.
Speaking to CNN, Professor Dale said the study proves that we should finally stop doubting the usefulness of therapy dogs in a medicinal context and focus on integrating them with health care teams.
The findings suggest that being around dogs was not only helpful for patients, but could also provide needed optimism to healthcare workers. This can be especially beneficial in the turbulent times of the COVID-19 pandemic, where healthcare workers have been burdened with work in life-threatening conditions.
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