Measuring Stress and Immune Response in Healthcare Professionals following Interaction with a Therapy Dog: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study investigated the optimal time for measuring stress and immune function in 20 healthcare professionals (19 women and 1 man) following interaction with a therapy dog. A nonclinical sample of healthcare professionals was assigned to 20 min. of quiet rest, and 5 and 20 min. with a therapy dog. Serum cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were collected at baseline, 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min. postcondition. Salivary cortisol, salivary IgA, and blood for lymphocytes were collected at baseline, 30, 45, and 60 min. postcondition. Analysis indicated significant reductions in serum and salivary cortisol. The optimal time for measuring serum or salivary cortisol following interaction with a therapy dog was 45 min., with changes in salivary cortisol reflecting serum cortisol changes. Findings also suggest stress reduction in healthcare professionals may occur after as little as 5 min. of interaction with a therapy dog and warrants further investigation.

The feasibility of brief dog-assisted therapy on university students stress levels: the PAwS study

“…This is in line with other studies (Barker et al, 2005; although Barker used a different biomarker (cortisol) so it is not certain that they are measuring the same thing. A more recent study did not find any change in biomarkers, although it did in perceived stress (Barker et al, 2016).…”

“…Earlier studies have suggested to get optimal readings from cortisol, the sample needs to be taken around 45 min after the intervention (Barker et al, 2005). We were able to take the blood pressure immediately post-intervention, allowing the students to leave quickly and reducing the burden of the research.…”

“…Healthcare professionals who interacted with a dog for as little as five minutes showed reduced biological markers of stress, as measured by salivary and serum cortisol levels; optimal measures were obtained 45 minutes after the interaction whereby cortisol readings were significantly lower than baseline (Barker et al, 2005). Studies have also found mental health inpatients with mood and psychotic disorders to display significant reductions in anxiety on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (Spielberger, 1983) after a 30-min animal-assisted therapy session (Barker & Dawson, 1998).…”

Effects of animal-assisted activity on self-reported feelings of pain in hospitalized children and adolescents

“…These data corroborate the findings of Marcus et al (2012), who stated that AAI benefits health professionals, which are regularly exposed to stressful work conditions. Another study showed that there was a significant decrease in salivary cortisol (stress hormone) in hospital professionals after 5 min of contact with a dog (Barker et al 2005).…”

Animal-Assisted Interventions; Effects on Human Mental Health - A Theoretical Framework

“…In conclusion the study showed that the interaction with the dog induced oxytocin release, and promoted oxytocin mediated effects, such as decreasing cortisol levels and blood pressure. Other intervention studies with companion animals have shown a decrease in levels of stress hormones like adrenalin and noradrenalin (Barker et al, 2005;Odendaal, 2000). Several studies of AAIs with companion animals have examined the connection between changes in physiological measures and reduced state anxiety (Barker et al 2003a,b;Cole et al, 2007;Hoffmann et al, 2009).…”