The “Belly Rubs for Burnout” facility dog program was developed to address rates of burnout and professional distress among resident physicians. Lean quality improvement methodology was utilized to develop and implement the “Belly Rubs for Burnout” program to most effectively address the needs of resident physicians. This session will review the emotional benefits of facility dogs including those related to burnout and mental health. Additionally, this session will address common obstacles and considerations in implementing a facility dog program at an academic health center.
Ahart, E. R., Gilmer, L., Tenpenny, K., & Krase, K. (2022). Improving resident well-being: A narrative review of wellness curricula. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 99(1173), 679-686.
Coto, J. A., Ohlendorf, E. K., Cinnamon, A. E., Ellisa, T. L., Ondrey, M. A. & Bartuch, P. (2022). A correlational study exploring nurse work anxiety and animal-assisted therapy. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 52(9), 498-502.
Jensen, C. L., Bibbo, J., Rodriquez, K. E. & O’Haire, M. E. (2021). The effects of facility dogs on burnout, job-related well-being, and mental health in paediatric hospital professionals. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(9-10), 1-24.
Machova, K., Souchkova, M., Prochazkova, R., Vanickova, Z. & Mezian, K. (2019). Canine-assisted therapy improves well-being in nurses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(3670), 1-11.
Steinberg, B., Clark, S. S., Justice, M., Mitchell, A., Owens, R., Elum, J., Kerns, M. V., Kerns, K. R., Jefferis, H., Morgan, J., Marlowe, N., Gains, C., Vaupel-Juart, S., Keene, J., Renz, K., Hohman, K., Wynn, L., Lewis, E., & Klatt, M. (2024). The impact of animal assisted activity on healthcare worker well-being in the inpatient hospital setting. International Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 17(4), 174-182.