Date of Award

6-2024

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Brandi Fulwider PhD, OTR/L

Abstract

Canine animal assisted therapy demonstrates health benefits throughout numerous populations and healthcare environments. Unfortunately, there is limited literature and resources available regarding how to utilize canine animal assisted therapy within the profession of occupational therapy. The capstone project proposed the following question due to the limited resources available: within the profession of occupational therapy, would an educational course on how to utilize an animal assisted therapy canine increase the knowledge, confidence, and interest of use within the profession? An educational workshop, Canines in Occupational Therapy, was developed throughout the 12-week capstone experience and administered on March 30th, 2024, at A.T. Still University, as well as online through Zoom. The project administered a voluntary pre- and post-survey prior to and after the completion of the workshop to measure occupational therapy practitioners and students’ growth in confidence, interest, and knowledge. Sixteen participants’ surveys went through a data analysis and found that all mean scores for knowledge and confidence increased, with p values of statistical significance. The participants’ interest mean change score decreased by 0.06 from pre- to post- workshop, which demonstrates a small change. These findings indicate after taking a 4-hour workshop, interest slightly decreased which would be assumed due to the workshop length. Overall, the educational workshop was successful and effective in increasing occupational therapists and students’ knowledge and confidence with canine animal assisted therapy within the profession.

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