Poster Presentation Asia Pacific Stroke Conference 2024

Dogs Offering Support after Stroke (DOgSS) – Two Cycles of Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) Action Research at the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Stroke Unit (#407)

Monica Anne Hamilton-Bruce 1 , Janette O Young 2 , Susan J Hazel 3 , Simon A Koblar 4 , Austin G Milton 5 , Carmel Nottle 2 , Sonya McDowell 3 , Ben Mani 2
  1. Stroke Research Programme, Basil Hetzel Institute, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Woodville South 5011, South Australia, Australia
  2. Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5000, SA, Australia
  3. School of Animal and Veterinary Science, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy 5371, South Australia, Australia
  4. Stroke Research Programme, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
  5. Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN), Woodville South, 5011, SA, Australia

Background: In acute settings, illnesses, e.g., stroke, can have devastating emotional impacts on people, their close companions and care-givers; AAI has been reported as improving patients' mood, enhancing quality of life.

Aims: To determine, using Action Research: whether RAH-Stroke Unit dog-visiting makes a difference to the expressed mood of patients, the impact on informal patient supports present, as well as staff, volunteers, the dog-handler and dog.

Methods: Cycle-1 was reported in-part previously1. In Cycle-2 we followed our protocol2 with minor amendment, collecting wellbeing data from RAH-Stroke Unit patients before and after the dog-visits, also from their informal supports visiting at the time. RAH volunteers and Stroke Unit staff provided anonymous/identifiable comment. Wellbeing was assessed by Smiley Faces (McNemar test) and Likert mood scales (paired t-test).

Results: Feedback from Cycle-1 informed amendment of our project description for Cycle-2, e.g., allowing all ward professionals to refer. Preliminary Cycle-2 participant data analysis (n=41) showed a significant positive effect of dog-visiting on patient mood for both tests (p<0.05), with eight visitors participating. Comments were positive, encouraging and supportive, e.g., Patient: ”I felt a lot happier after the dog visit.”; Visitor: “...I would really love to see resident doggies”; Anonymous: “Lovely experience. Brightened her day.”; Staff: “...It’s good to see their [patients’] smiles. It also boosts nurses mood...” and “I am all for having dogs regularly visit the stroke unit...”.

Conclusion: Feedback from Cycle-1 helped shape Cycle-2, with expressed participant mood also improving. Our findings can be used to inform future research and service dog-visiting.

  1. 1. Hamilton-Bruce MA, Young J, Hazel SJ, et al. Abstract 102, Int J Stroke 2023;18(2S):11. https://doi.org/10.1177/17474930231188838
  2. 2. Hamilton-Bruce MA, Young J, Nottle C, et al. Developing and Planning a Protocol for Implementing Health Promoting Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) in a Tertiary Health Setting. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(18), 6780. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20186780.