Townsend Lisa, Heatwole Jennifer K, Gee Nancy R
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Animals (Basel). 2022 Jul 20;12(14):1842. doi: 10.3390/ani12141842.
This study examined human−animal interactions during the reactivation of a hospital-based therapy dog program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from human−dog interactions at an academic medical center in Virginia. Interaction length, participant role, age group (pediatric or adult), and observed gender were recorded. Handler adherence to human and animal safety protocols (donning personal protective equipment (PPE), using hand sanitizer, and limiting visit length) was measured. Observations from 1016 interactions were collected. t-tests and analysis of variance were conducted. Most visit recipients were healthcare workers (71.69%). Patients received longer visits than other participants (F(4880) = 72.90, p = <0.001); post hoc Bonferroni analyses (p = 0.05/4) showed that patients, both adult (M = 2.58 min, SD = 2.24) (95% C.I = 0.35−1.68) and pediatric (M = 5.81, SD = 4.38) (95% C.I. 3.56−4.97), had longer interaction times than healthcare workers (M = 1.56, SD = 1.92) but not visitors (p = 1.00). Gender differences were not statistically significant (t(552) = −0.736), p = 0.462). Hand sanitizer protocols were followed for 80% of interactions. PPE guidelines were followed for 100% of visits. Most interactions occurred with healthcare workers, suggesting that therapy dog visits are needed for this population. High adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols supports the decision to reactivate therapy animal visitation programs in hospitals. Challenges to safety protocol adherence included ultra-brief interactions and crowds of people surrounding the dog/handler teams. Program staff developed a “buddy system” mitigation strategy to minimize departures from safety protocols and reduce canine stress.
本研究调查了在新冠疫情期间一家医院重新启动治疗犬项目过程中的人兽互动情况。数据收集自弗吉尼亚州一家学术医疗中心的人犬互动。记录了互动时长、参与者角色、年龄组（儿科或成人）以及观察到的性别。测量了训导员对人和动物安全协议的遵守情况（穿戴个人防护装备（PPE）、使用洗手液以及限制探访时长）。收集了1016次互动的观察数据。进行了t检验和方差分析。大多数探访对象是医护人员（71.69%）。患者接受的探访时间比其他参与者更长（F(4880) = 72.90，p = <0.001）；事后邦费罗尼分析（p = 0.05/4）表明，成人患者（M = 2.58分钟，标准差 = 2.24）（95%置信区间 = 0.35 - 1.68）和儿科患者（M = 5.81，标准差 = 4.38）（95%置信区间3.56 - 4.97）的互动时间比医护人员（M = 1.56，标准差 = 1.92）长，但与访客相比无差异（p = 1.00）。性别差异无统计学意义（t(552) = -0.736），p = 0.462）。80%的互动遵循了洗手液使用协议。100%的探访遵循了个人防护装备指南。大多数互动发生在医护人员身上，这表明该人群需要治疗犬探访。对新冠安全协议的高度遵守支持了在医院重新启动治疗动物探访项目的决定。遵守安全协议面临的挑战包括超短互动以及围绕犬/训导员团队的人群。项目工作人员制定了一种“伙伴系统 ”缓解策略，以尽量减少偏离安全协议的情况并减轻犬的压力。
