A Canadian First: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Facility Dog’s Role in Hospital Workers’ Perceived Support and Commitment
Maziha Kamal, Jason B. Coe, Katie M. Clow, Marianne Saragosa, Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, Basem GoharBackground
Higher absenteeism and turnover rates among healthcare workers stem from increased workloads, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to support staff in this field. An Ontario hospital became the first in Canada to introduce a National Service Dog-certified Facility Dog named Ember in 2022.
Objectives
This study aimed to assess the association between hospital workers’ interaction with the facility dog and perceived organizational support (POS), and organizational commitment (POC).
Design
A cross-sectional study was conducted.
Methods
A voluntary survey involving 263 hospital workers was employed to measure these outcomes, using the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support and the Three-Component Model (TCM) Employee Commitment Scale. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential analyses, specifically logistic and linear regressions to identify facility dog-related predictors of POS and POC.
Results
Staff who frequently and directly interacted with the facility dog reported higher perceived support than those who did not. Additionally, staff who directly interacted with the facility dog had higher levels of continuance commitment.
Conclusion
Findings suggest that facility dogs may be associated with higher perceived organizational support and organizational commitment, warranting further research in this area.