The Experience оf Animаl Assisted Therаpy оn Pаtients in an Acute Care Setting (Cоakley et al., 2021). Background: Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs are popular and there has been a proliferation of programs across settings. However, the research to support this intervention has not kept pace. This is particularly so for people who are hospitalized. Objective: This investigation aimed to explore the effects of the AAT dog visitation program on patients. We hypothesized that a one-time AAT visit/intervention from a dog lasting about 15 min would result in decreased respiratory and heart rate, improved comfort, and wellbeing and decreased measures of anxiety in participants. Methods: A single group pre-post design evaluated the effect of pet therapy on participants who were recruited from three inpatient general care units at a large acute care hospital in the northeastern section of the United States over a six-month period in 2018. Participants were enrolled based on who was available and met criteria to participate. Measures included salivary cortisol, anxiety, wellbeing, comfort, respiratory, and heart rate. Patient-reported outcomes included measures of anxiety, comfort, and well-being. The Spielberger State/Trait Anxiety questionnaire (STAI), a measure of anxiety, contains 20 items that ask respondents to describe how they feel “right now” to a series of 20 questions. The STAI is a reliable (Cronbach alpha coefficient of .92) and valid tool to measure anxiety. Results: Analysis indicates a significant reduction in heart and respiratory rates p
The Cоmpаrisоn оf Two Recovery Room Wаrming Methods for Hypothermiа Patients Who had Undergone Spine Surgery (Su et al., 2016) Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the time needed to reach a specified temperature and the efficiency of two warming methods- warm cotton blankets and a radiant warmer-for hypothermia patients in a post-anesthetic unit (PACU) after spinal surgery. Design: Prospective data were collected from a medical referral center in northern Taiwan. A total of 130 post-spinal surgery patients with hypothermia were recruited for the study. Methods: Of the 130 patients in the PACU, 65 were warmed by the radiant warmer (group R); whereas the other 65 patients were warmed by cotton blankets (Group B). Participants were not randomly assigned into these groups. Tympanic temperatures were measured for each patient every ten minutes until it reached 36 degrees C in the PACU. Statistical analysis of covariance and regression analysis were performed to compare the time needed to reach a specific temperature and the efficiency of the two warming methods respectively. Findings: Both groups were similar in their baseline characteristics. The level of significance for the study was set at p = .05. After adjusting for temperature upon arrival at the PACU, group R needed a significantly shorter time for rewarming to 36 degrees C than group B (p