Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
Vol. 46 No. 9 September 2008
Behavioral Health Staff’s Perceptions of Pet-Assisted Therapy: An Exploratory Study
Jeanette Rossetti, EdD, RN; Susanne DeFabiis, MS, RN, BC; Camille Belpedio, MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC
ABSTRACT
The purpose and objectives of this exploratory descriptive study were threefold: to assess the impact of pet-assisted therapy on the overall well-being of behavioral health staff, to document whether pet-assisted therapy affected the retention of behavioral health staff, and to explore and describe therapeutic measures behavioral health staff implemented in using pet-assisted therapy in the delivery of mental health patient care. The participants in this study were 10 behavioral health staff members who were involved with the pet-assisted therapy program at a private psychiatric hospital in a Chicago suburb. Themes that emerged from the study included Self-Awareness, Morale, Innovative Therapeutic Strategies, Challenges, and Future Directions. This article describes these themes in detail, provides quotations from participants to further highlight meaning, and discusses the powerful effect of pet-assisted therapy on both patients and staff in the therapeutic milieu.
AUTHORS
Dr. Rossetti is Assistant Professor, and Ms. DeFabiis is Adjunct Faculty, School of Nursing & Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and Ms. Belpedio is Coordinator of Education and Research, Linden Oaks Hospital at Edward, Naperville, Illinois.
The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support.
Address correspondence to Jeanette Rossetti, EdD, RN, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing & Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, 1240 Normal Road, DeKalb, IL 60115; e-mail: rossetti@niu.edu.
Cyber Child Sexual Exploitation
Ann Wolbert Burgess, DNSc, APRN, BC, FAAN; Meghan Mahoney; Julie Visk; Leonard Morgenbesser, PhD
ABSTRACT
A 2-year review of 285 child cyber crime cases reported in the newspaper revealed how the Internet offenders were apprehended, the content of child pornography, and crime classification. A subsample of 100 cases with data on offender occupation revealed 73% of cases involved people in positions of authority. The dynamics of child cyber crime cases direct the implications for nursing practice in terms of evidence-based suspicion for reporting, categorizing the content of Internet images, referral of children for counseling, and treatment of offenders.
AUTHORS
Dr. Burgess is Professor of Psychiatric Nursing, and Ms. Mahoney and Ms. Visk are Undergraduate Research Fellows, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; and Dr. Morgenbesser is Adjunct Faculty Member, Graduate Studies (Social Policy), Empire State College, State University of New York, Saratoga Springs, New York.
The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity. This article was supported, in part, by Grant 2006-JW-BX-K069 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice and a Boston College Undergraduate Research Fellow award. Points of view or opinions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or Boston College.
Address correspondence to Ann Wolbert Burgess, DNSc, APRN, BC, FAAN, Professor of Psychiatric Nursing, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467; e-mail: burges@bc.edu.
Web-Based Treatment of Alcohol Problems Among Rural Women: Results of a Randomized Pilot Investigation
Deborah Finfgeld-Connett, PhD, PMHCNS-BC; Richard Madsen, PhD
ABSTRACT
It is estimated that 6 million women in the United States misuse alcohol. Of that number, many live in rural areas and face numerous barriers to treatment. The World Wide Web has the potential to help such individuals overcome these barriers. In light of emergent findings supporting the effectiveness of online alcohol treatment services for women, a randomized pilot study was conducted to evaluate a Web-based, self-guided alcohol treatment program. Eligible women were randomized to standard care or an online treatment program. Web-based treatment components included gender-specific reference modules and decision making modules, an asynchronous bulletin board, and a synchronous chat feature. The average age of the participants (N = 44) was 50 (SD = 11 years), and their baseline Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score was 18 (SD = 6), with 8 being the cut-off score for problem drinking. At 3-month follow up, both treatment groups decreased their drinking; however, no significant differences were found between them.
AUTHORS
Dr. Finfgeld-Connett is Associate Professor, Sinclair School of Nursing, and Dr. Madsen is Professor (Emeritus), Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity. The investigation described in this article was supported by grant 1R15NR009198-01A1 from the National Institute of Nursing Research. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Nursing Research or the National Institutes of Health.
Address correspondence to Deborah Finfgeld-Connett, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, Associate Professor, S321 Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211; e-mail: finfgeldD@missouri.edu.
