Carnette Smith
geriatric nurse educator and NICHE coordinator at Chilton Medical Center
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Aging Sci
With the growing population of people age 80 and older, the study provides insight into the positive outcomes that could be achieved if the intervention is implemented in acute care settings. Animal assisted activity (AAA) is a non-medical intervention that involves certified animal handlers and dogs that interact with patients in various settings. The pilot study was a non-randomized, descriptive pre-post-test study design, that evaluated the impact of AAA on a patient’s perceived levels of anxiety. It was approved by the IRB. A convenience sample of 60 patients were recruited from Chilton’s Medical/Surgical and Medical/Oncology Units. The Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) 6-item short form was used to measure the patient’s pre-post level of anxiety. Study consisted of a one-time, 12-20 minutes visit from a trained/certified dog and handler wherein the patient would pet and interact with the dog. A paired t-test indicates that the mean post-test score (M = 7.68, SD = 2.29) was significantly less than the mean pre-test score (M = 11.1, SD = 3.29), t (57) = 8.19, p = 000. This study provided evidence that AAA intervention reduces anxiety for hospitalized older adults.
Carnette Smith, MS, RN-BC,CDP is a ANCC certified geriatric nurse educator and NICHE coordinator at Chilton Medical Center. She is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She was a chief investigator in a multicenter study of animal-assisted activity and anxiety among older adults hospitalized in acute care setting.