Improving Healthcare Professionals’ Well-Being Through the Use of Therapy Dogs

ABSTRACT

The Cushing/Whitney Medical Library on the Medical Campus of Yale University provides the healthcare community with the information services critical to training students and informing doctors. The library has been changing due to the decreased dependence on print materials while its role as a place to study, socialize, and relax has increased in importance. Research shows that healthcare professionals experience significantly higher levels of stress anxiety and depression than the general population. The library has the opportunity to reinvent itself not only as a place to study and socialize but also a place that provides opportunities for relaxation and stress reduction through opportunities such as a therapy dog program.

KEYWORDS:

• Animal-assisted therapy
• animal visitation program healthcare professionals
• human-animal interaction
• therapy dog
• wellness