Date on Paper
8-2025
Document Type
Doctoral Paper
Degree Name
D.N.P.
Department
Nursing
Committee Chair
McRae, Emily
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Bethel-Hines, Cyntheia
Committee Member
Robertson, Sara
Author's Keywords
Pet therapy; adolescent psychiatry; program evaluation; anxiety; stakeholder feedback; animal-assisted therapy
Abstract
Pet therapy is an increasingly utilized intervention in psychiatric care, particularly among adolescents. Within the inpatient adolescent psychiatric setting, pet therapy has been linked to reduced anxiety, enhanced emotional regulation, and improved patient engagement. At Norton Children’s Hospital’s Ackerly Child Psychiatric Unit, pet therapy sessions are offered weekly but had not been formally evaluated. The absence of structured evaluation raised concerns about sustainability, consistency, and the program’s therapeutic impact. This project aimed to take a deeper look at the program by conducting a program evaluation of the existing pet therapy initiative at the Ackerly Unit. The evaluation focused on identifying logistical barriers, measuring changes in patient anxiety levels before and after sessions, and gathering stakeholder feedback to inform future improvements. The project utilized both quantitative and qualitative data, combining retrospective chart reviews of anxiety scores with stakeholder survey responses. The CDC Framework for Program Evaluation guided project implementation and analysis. This program evaluation supports the value of pet therapy in adolescent psychiatric care and offers specific strategies to enhance its delivery and sustainability within the inpatient setting.
Recommended Citation
Brockman, Michael and Brockman, Michael, "A program evaluation of the pet therapy program at Norton Children’s Hospital’s Ackerly Child Psychiatric Unit." (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers. Paper 175.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/dnp/175
