A Qualitative Inquiry to Understand the Impact of a Facility Dog on Hospital Workers’ Perceived Organizational Support

Health systems are under pressure due to staffing shortages and retention challenges, exacerbated by COVID-19. Its negative impact on hospital staff’s well-being, coupled with limited support, highlights the need for more innovative organizational solutions to improve retention. Recognizing this, an Ontario hospital became the first in Canada to employ a full-time facility dog to support hospital staff in distress. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of hospital staff with a facility dog and its impact on the staff’s perceived organizational support. One-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinical, non-clinical and volunteer staff at the hospital. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and then thematically analyzed. The sample comprised 27 participants, including 13 clinical and 12 non-clinical employees, and 2 volunteers, with the majority identifying as women (77.78%). The results revealed the following themes: (1) the facility dog offers a unique type of support that is distinct and innovative from currently available support; (2) the facility dog’s presence has made positive organizational changes; (3) the facility dog provides a short-term relief that may be limited to some staff roles; (4) a sense of pride in being leaders by introducing such program to a Canadian hospital; (5) the need for organizational improvements beyond the facility dog. Participants perceived the facility dog as having a positive, although short-term, impact, particularly among non-clinical employees. The results suggest that while the dog can improve perceived organizational support, additional long-term initiatives are needed to maintain these perceptions and support over time.