ABSTRACT

Research suggests that a therapy dog team may have a positive impact on medical students’ anxiety. However, no controlled studies have evaluated this intervention’s effect on their stress and anxiety before an exam. Twelve medical students participated in this study. Utilizing a repeated-measures design, each participant interacted with a therapy dog team before one exam and engaged in their regular pre-exam routine before another. Participants then recorded their level of perceived anxiety and had salivary cortisol levels measured. Results: Both conditions significantly decreased salivary cortisol levels from baseline. Additionally, perceived anxiety was significantly lower after interacting with the therapy dog team when compared to engaging in one’s regular pre-exam routine. This controlled study is the first to assess the impact of a therapy dog team on medical students’ exam stress and anxiety. Results support pre-exam interaction with a therapy dog team to reduce stress and anxiety.

摘要

研究表明，治疗犬团队可能对医学生的焦虑产生积极影响。然而，还没有对照研究评估这种干预措施对考试前压力和焦虑的影响。十二名医学生参与了这项研究。利用重复测量设计，每位参与者在一次考试前与治疗犬团队互动，并在另一次考试前进行常规的考前例行活动。然后，参与者记录了他们感知到的焦虑水平，并测量了唾液皮质醇水平。结果：两种情况下唾液皮质醇水平均较基线显着降低。此外，与参加常规的考试前例行活动相比，与治疗犬团队互动后，感知到的焦虑显着降低。这项对照研究首次评估了治疗犬团队对医学生考试压力和焦虑的影响。结果支持考前与治疗犬团队的互动，以减轻压力和焦虑。