Mental Health Staff Views on Therapy Dogs in the Workplace

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The Implications of bringing Dogs to Work: NHS Mental Health Staff Perspectives on Therapy Dogs in the Workplace

  • IRAS ID

    253351

  • Contact name

    Tia Urgasova

  • Contact email

    tia.urgasova@westlondon.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    NoCLoR

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 7 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    In summer 2018, a pilot project was started where 'Pets as Therapy' approved dogs were introduced to teams at the West London NHS Trust. To evaluate the project, we are looking to conduct a qualitative study, using interviews, to explore staff perspectives of having access to a therapy dog in the workplace. The interviews will consider any benefits and drawbacks of the project. A short survey asking staff whether they wish to discuss their feedback regarding the therapy dogs will be sent to all staff working in teams who have access to one of the therapy dogs; we will then conduct semi-structured one to one interviews with those that show an interest. The interviews will last approximately 30 minutes. We are looking to use thematic analysis to analyse the data collected and present these in a paper with summary themes supported with the original quotes from our participants. We would like to publish the findings in a relevant journal.

  • REC name

    N/A

  • REC reference

    N/A