What YOU do makes a difference: Evidence supporting benefits of animalassisted

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2 What YOU do makes a difference: Evidence supporting benefits of animalassisted interventions Professionalizing the Passion 2017 Conference Sandra B. Barker, Ph.D. Professor of Psychiatry and Bill Balaban Chair in Human-Animal Interaction Director, School of Medicine Center for Human-Animal Interaction

3 Center for Human-Animal Interaction Overview Brief overview of The School of Medicine Center for Human-Animal Interaction (CHAI) at VCU and its Dogs On Call therapy dog program Summary of CHAI research on the benefits of animalassisted interventions on human health Summary of health outcomes with accumulating research evidence Questions and Comments

4 Center for Human- Animal Interaction at VCU Mission: Improved health and well-being through human-animal interaction Goals: Research: Increase knowledge of the benefits of the human-animal interaction through interdisciplinary research Service: Enhance health and well being through animal-assisted interventions Education: Improve understanding of the benefits of the human-animal interaction

5 Center for Human-Animal Interaction Educational Activities Medical student and resident electives Internships Presentations Service Activities Dogs On Call VCU events Pet Loss Counseling Interdisciplinary research

6 Dogs On Call Requirements Therapy dogs registered with 1) Pet Partners or 2) Alliance of Therapy Dogs (after CGC completion) Facility dogs trained by Canine Companions for Independence Completion of VCU Medical Center Volunteer training Completion of Dogs On Call Orientation Follow Dogs On Call/VCU Medical Center policies and procedures for visits

7 We visit all patients except: Patients on contact precautions unless physician approval is documented Patients with active infections, open wounds, or receiving intravenous treatment unless physician approval is documented Patients in operating rooms, some emergency room areas, and the cafeteria Patients with dog fears or allergies Patients who do not consent to a therapy dog visit

8 What we learn from teams like YOU Informs our research Enriches education Establishes efficacy

9 You Make The Difference!

10 Do Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) Benefit Human Health?

11 Center Co-investigators Brittany Albright, MD, Dept of Psychiatry, Harvard University Avis Allen, D.S.N., Dept of Nephrology, VCU Suzanne Ameringer, Ph.D., School of Nursing, VCU Randolph Barker, Ph.D., VCU School of Business, VCU Ann Berger, M.D., National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Al Best, Ph.D., Dept of Biostatistics, VCU Evren Burakgazi, M.D., Dept of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital Daniel Carl, M.D., Dept of Internal Medicine, VCU Rachel Cobb, Ph.D., School of Nursing, VCU Pat Coyne, Dept. of Hematology/Oncology, VCU Jeff Green, Ph.D., Dept. of Psychology, VCU Lance Hampton., MD, Dept. of Urology, VCU Janet Knisely, Ph.D., Dept. of Psychiatry, VCU Nancy McCain, D.S.N., School of Nursing, VCU Patricia Murphy, Ph.D., Weill Medical College of Cornell University Anand Pandurangi, M.D., Dept of Psychiatry, VCU Keith Rasmussen, MD, Dept of Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic Chris Schubert, Ph.D., Dept of Math/Statistics, Air Force Institute of Technology Tom Smith, M.D., Dept of Hematology/Oncology, Johns Hopkins University

12 Do Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) Benefit Psychiatry Patients? Anxiety levels of hospitalized psychiatric patients are reduced following a single AAI. Exposure to fish tanks prior to Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) does not reduce patients levels of anxiety, depression, or fear. 15-minutes of AAI with a therapy dog prior to ECT reduces patients fear by 37% and anxiety by 18%. A therapy dog in group psychotherapy significantly increases attendance by hospitalized psychiatry patients

13 Do animal-assisted interventions (AAI) reduce the physiological stress response in healthcare professionals? Physiological stress (serum and salivary cortisol levels), significantly reduced after as little as 5 minutes in AAI No difference in stress reduction between brief AAI and 20 minutes of resting quietly

14 Do dogs relax their owners in stressful situations, and if so, is there a similar benefit from unfamiliar dogs, like in AAI? Compared healthy dog owners interacting with their own or an unfamiliar therapy dog after a mental stress task Examined physiological stress patterns (stress hormone levels, brain wave activity, blood pressure, heart rate, and self reported stress and anxiety)

15 The answer is YES! Results show a consistent pattern of physiological and self-reported stress after a mental stress task AND a consistent pattern of relaxation following interaction with the dog Relaxation associated with interacting with one s own dog mirrored in interactions with an unfamiliar dog

16 Does interacting with therapy dogs really de-stress college students? Paws for Stress Event sponsored by VCU Counseling Services and CHAI the week before mid-term and final exams Pilot study showed racial and ethnic diversity of attendees (n=826) were representative of VCU Significant stress reduction: 93% had reduced stress after AAT 95% physically touched at least one dog Follow-up randomized controlled study Compared stress in 78 students in Paws for Stress with control condition

17 Results No significant physiological stress differences between AAI and control condition Significant decreases in self-reported stress after AAI regardless of whether students completed AAI or the control condition first No significant differences for control condition

18 Stress scale scores at each time point by group Group A assigned to AAI 1 st ; Group B assigned to control 1st

19 Secondary study Examined emotional closeness to family members and pets No difference in emotional closeness between students and pets and between students and their closest family member 43% of students were closer to their pet than to any human family member

20 Does AAI affect self-reported pain and stress in pediatric patients?

21 AAI and pediatric patients Randomized controlled study of 40 pediatric patients hospitalized at VCU Medical Center AAI compared with control condition : building a puzzle with a research assistant Used numerical rating scales familiar to the patients to measure pain and stress

22 Results No differences in pain or stress Initial scores very low Patients on numerous medications Findings consistent with two recent studies University of Texas Medical Center American Humane Association study involving five pediatric cancer hospitals

23 Evidence of improved health associated with human-animal interaction Fewer doctor visits Reduced mortality Decreased cardiovascular disease risk Reduced stress response Increased physical activity Faster recovery following orthopedic surgery Improved cognitive performance Reduced depression Reduced anxiety Reduced fear Reduced loneliness Increased prosocial behavior Increased social support Increased empathy Increased educational motivation

24 Areas of increased research interest Children with developmental challenges Autism Adults & children with mental health conditions College students Elderly Veterans Animal welfare in AAI

25 Recognition of evidence supporting AAI American Hospital Association American Psychological Association (HAI section 13 of Division 17 Society of Counseling Psychology) Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) International Society of Anthrozoӧlogy Mission Critical Health National Institutes of Health Pet Partners Popular media Scholarly journals

26 Recognition that what YOU do makes a difference!

27 Thank YOU for making a difference! References with abstracts on sandra.barker@vcuhealth.org Like/visit -