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“There Is a Cat on Our Ward”: Inpatient and Staff Member Attitudes toward and Experiences with Cats in a Psychiatric Ward

Author

Listed:
  • Cora Wagner

    (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel 4055, Switzerland)

  • Undine E. Lang

    (University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), University of Basel, Basel 4002, Switzerland)

  • Karin Hediger

    (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel 4055, Switzerland
    Human and Animal Health Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4051, Switzerland
    Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Human-Animal Interaction, IEMT Switzerland, Basel 4002, Switzerland
    REHAB Basel, Clinic for Neurorehabilitation and Paraplegiology, Basel 4055, Switzerland)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate inpatient and staff member attitudes toward and experiences with ward cats, and identify possible mechanisms for how cats affect patient satisfaction in a psychiatric clinic. Thirty-three inpatients diagnosed with depression or psychosis residing on wards with and without cats and 17 staff members working on wards with cats participated in semi-structured interviews using a cross-sectional study design. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and correlations. The results showed that 17 out of 19 inpatients and all the staff members liked having a cat on their ward. Further, 12 out of 14 inpatients on wards without cats would like having a cat on their ward. Inpatient perceptions of the cat’s impact on the ward atmosphere correlated significantly with their emotional relationship with the cat ( p = 0.015, r = 0.561), how often they saw the cat ( p = 0.002, r = 0.676), and if they liked cats in general ( p = 0.041, r = 0.486). Our results highlight the positive attitudes of inpatients and staff members toward ward cats and the potential of ward cats to enhance patient satisfaction. This influence might be mediated by factors such as the frequency of contact, the relationship between each patient and the cat, and each patient’s attitude toward cats in general.

Suggested Citation

  • Cora Wagner & Undine E. Lang & Karin Hediger, 2019. "“There Is a Cat on Our Ward”: Inpatient and Staff Member Attitudes toward and Experiences with Cats in a Psychiatric Ward," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-10, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3108-:d:261230
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karin Hediger & Andrea Meisser & Jakob Zinsstag, 2019. "A One Health Research Framework for Animal-Assisted Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-6, February.
    2. Eleonora Gullone, 2000. "The Biophilia Hypothesis and Life in the 21st Century: Increasing Mental Health or Increasing Pathology?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 293-322, September.
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    1. Cathrin Rothkopf & Silke Schworm, 2021. "Exploring Dog-Assisted Interventions in Higher Education: Students’ Attitudes and Perceived Effects on Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-18, April.

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