title: Behavioral health staff's perceptions of pet-assisted therapy: an exploratory study.
abstract: The purpose and objectives of this exploratory descriptive study were threefold: to assess the impact of pet-assisted therapy on the overall well-being of behavioral health staff, to document whether pet-assisted therapy affected the retention of behavioral health staff, and to explore and describe therapeutic measures behavioral health staff implemented in using pet-assisted therapy in the delivery of mental health patient care. The participants in this study were 10 behavioral health staff members who were involved with the pet-assisted therapy program at a private psychiatric hospital in a Chicago suburb. Themes that emerged from the study included Self-Awareness, Morale, Innovative Therapeutic Strategies, Challenges, and Future Directions. This article describes these themes in detail, provides quotations from participants to further highlight meaning, and discusses the powerful effect of pet-assisted therapy on both patients and staff in the therapeutic milieu.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA. rossetti@niu.edu
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DeFabiis
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belpedio
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000818:Animals; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D002321:Career Choice; D002641:Chicago; D004285:Dogs; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D009013:Morale; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires