Evaluation of Dog Walking Programs to Promote Student Nurse Health

Abstract

Aim:To provide a brief review of health concerns associated with a sedentary lifestyle and summarize some of the benefits of walking, with specific focus on the value of dog-walking programs as a means to improve health and wellness for the student nurse. Methods: A professor within the School of Nursing and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine collaborated to review research on the benefits of dog walking and interventions utilizing dogs to increase and sustain physical activity in their owners and those that enjoy the companionship a dog can provide. Results: Dog walking is an intervention to increase activity among student nurses due to companionship and the sense of obligation dogs provide. Research suggests that dog owners are more physically active with subsequent health benefits for both owners and dogs. Animal assisted therapy programs within the university setting can link students with dogs to improve physical activity. Conclusion: Dog walking has benefits to both people and dogs. Nursing faculty can develop physical activity programs within their institution that incorporate walking a dog to enhance physical activity among student nurses. Further research is needed to empirically evaluate effectiveness of dog walking in the student nurse population.

An Intervention to Improve Mental and Physical Health of Undergraduate Nursing Students

“…Similar trends were seen in a survey of Canadian nursing students (n=437) who had significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores (p<0.005) than their non-nursing (n=1870) counterparts (Chernomas & Shapiro, 2013). Unmanaged symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress have a variety of negative impacts on the individual nursing student which mayinclude burnout and development of chronic diseases (Chernomas & Shapiro, 2013;Jimenez et al, 2010;McDermott et al, 2021;Morgan & Graff, 2019;Thomas, 2022;WHO, 2021).…”

“…Nurses' poor mental and physical health may begin as early as when they are undertaking undergraduate education (Bartlett et al, 2016;Hosseini et al, 2013;Meyer & Shatto, 2018;Thomas, 2022;Wills & Kelly, 2017). Nursing students experience poorer mental and physical health relative to students in other health-related disciplines and young adults of similar age outside post-secondary school (Jimenez et al, 2010;McDermott et al, 2021;Morgan & Graff, 2019;Thomas, 2022). Differences in stress scores between nursing students and their non-nursing counterparts have been reported.…”