Sociodemographic characteristics of respondents
Males (136; 66.0%), persons of the Christian faith (153; 74.3%), those currently not keeping a pet (109; 52.9%) and students whose fathers had tertiary level education (140; 68%) were in the majority. Most of the respondents were between the ages of 25 and 29 (97; 47.1%), currently resident in the cities (102; 49.5%), fourth-year medical students (95; 46.1%), had mothers who had tertiary level education (78; 37.9%), had families of high income and occupying more than four-bedroom apartment (101; 49.0%). Table 1 shows the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents in this study.
Table 1: Sociodemographic characteristics of respondents
Variable
|
Subgroup
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
Sex
|
Female
|
70
|
34.0
|
Male
|
136
|
66.0
|
Age (Nearest whole number)/years
|
21-24
|
92
|
44.7
|
25-29
|
97
|
47.1
|
>29
|
17
|
8.3
|
Religious affiliation
|
Christianity
|
153
|
74.3
|
Islam
|
50
|
24.3
|
Others
|
3
|
1.5
|
Where respondent grew up
|
Village
|
16
|
7.8
|
District capital
|
30
|
14.6
|
Town
|
34
|
16.5
|
Regional capital
|
24
|
11.7
|
City
|
102
|
49.5
|
Level of study
|
Level 400 (4th year)
|
95
|
46.1
|
Level 500 (5th year)
|
52
|
25.2
|
Level 600 (6th year)
|
59
|
28.6
|
Father’s educational status
|
None
|
20
|
9.7
|
Primary
|
7
|
3.4
|
JHS/Middle School
|
15
|
7.3
|
SHS
|
24
|
11.7
|
Tertiary
|
140
|
68.0
|
Mother’s educational status
|
None
|
42
|
20.4
|
Primary
|
7
|
3.4
|
JHS/Middle School
|
36
|
17.5
|
SHS
|
43
|
20.9
|
Tertiary
|
78
|
37.9
|
Home accommodation type
|
Single room
|
11
|
5.3
|
Chamber and a Hall
|
17
|
8.3
|
Two to three-bedroom apartment
|
77
|
37.4
|
Four or more-bedroom apartment
|
101
|
49.0
|
Do you currently have a pet at home?
|
No
|
109
|
52.9
|
Yes
|
97
|
47.1
|
Level of exposure of respondents to lessons on AAT at school and home
Majority of the medical students in this study (203; 98.5%) had never been exposed to any materials or lessons on AAT before and during their university education and had not seen any book on AAT in their libraries (Table 2). Only two (99.0) were aware of a facility or health worker that uses an animal as part of their treatment protocol.
Table 2: Exposure of respondents to AAT in school and at home
Questions
|
Responses
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
Before entering the university, have you at any point in your education been exposed to AAT?
|
No
|
203
|
98.5
|
Yes
|
3
|
1.5
|
Since you entered the university, have you ever been exposed to AAT in your academic programme?
|
No
|
203
|
98.5
|
Yes
|
3
|
1.5
|
Have you come across a book or reading materials on AAT in any library in the university?
|
No
|
203
|
98.5
|
Yes
|
3
|
1.5
|
Do you know any health facility or health worker who uses animals as part of their treatment protocol?
|
No
|
204
|
99.0
|
Yes
|
2
|
1.0
|
Respondent’s most preferred method of acquisition of knowledge in AAT if offered the opportunity
Figure 1 shows how medical students desired to acquire knowledge on AAT. The most preferred method suggested by the majority of respondents was a combination of lectures and practical lessons (146; 70.9%), followed by a blend of lectures and seminars (15; 7.3%), with the least preferred method being the use of only tutorials (1; 0.5%).
Assessment of medical students' knowledge of AAT
The overall knowledge score of the respondents was paltry (0.971±2.407 over 10; 9.7%). For the four questions used to assess respondents’ knowledge of AAT (Table 3), respondents who scored zero or gave incorrect answers were between 84.5% and 93.7%. The top three worst scores were related to questions asking the respondents to list three facilities that use AAT (0.117±0.490 over 3; 3.9%), stating three categories of persons who apply AAT in their practice (0.32±0.875 over 3; 10.9%) and asking for the definition of AAT (0.126±0.333 over 1; 12.6%). On the other hand, the best-answered question was about the listing of three animals that are used in AAT (0.408±0.982 over 3; 13.6%).
Table 3: Assessing medical students’ knowledge of AAT
Knowledge statements
|
Subgroup
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
Mean
|
Percentage level of correctness
|
Definition of AAT
|
Incorrect
|
180
|
87.4
|
0.126±0.333
|
12.6
|
Correct
|
26
|
12.6
|
List three categories of sick persons or health disorders who can benefit from AAT
|
0/3
|
179
|
86.9
|
0.32±0.875
|
10.7
|
1/3
|
5
|
2.4
|
2/3
|
5
|
2.4
|
3/3
|
17
|
8.3
|
List three animals that are used in AAT
|
0/3
|
174
|
84.5
|
0.408±0.982
|
13.6
|
1/3
|
2
|
1.0
|
2/3
|
8
|
3.9
|
3/3
|
22
|
10.7
|
List three facilities that use AAT
|
0/3
|
193
|
93.7
|
0.117±0.490
|
3.9
|
1/3
|
5
|
2.4
|
2/3
|
5
|
2.4
|
3/3
|
3
|
1.5
|
Overall score
|
|
|
|
0.971±2.407
|
9.7
|
Medical students’ attitude towards AAT
The bottom three lowly-scored attitudes statements responded to by the respondents were; requesting more studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of AAT in health care (1.971±1.586 or 28.1%), the assumption that animals used in AAT in hospitals can cause allergies (2.529±1.444 or 36.1%) and that animals used in AAT are likely to spread zoonotic diseases (3.000±1.504 or 42.9%). The top three highly scored attitudes questions were; respondents' disagreement that animals should never be used in treating human disease or disorder (5.679±1.566 or 81.1%), that animals belong to zoos not hospitals (5.155±1.669 or 73.6%), and agreement that many people that seek therapy will enjoy having animals as part of their treatment protocol (4.335±1.462 or 61.9%). Table 4 shows the assessment of the attitude of the respondents to AAT with an overall attitude score of 3.845±0.748 (54.9%).
Table 4: Medical students’ attitudes towards AAT
Attitude statement
|
Attitude score (Mean ± Standard deviation)
|
Attitude score (Percentage)
|
Animals should NEVER be used in treating any human disease or disorder. **
|
5.679±1.566
|
81.1
|
Using animals for treating diseases or disorders will increase the money a patient or client will spend on healthcare. **
|
4.286±1.725
|
61.2
|
More studies need to be done to demonstrate how effective animal-assisted therapy is to health care**
|
1.971±1.586
|
28.1
|
Should animals be used to treat human diseases, it can lead to the spread of zoonotic (animal to human transmitted) diseases**
|
3.000±1.504
|
42.9
|
Many people who seek therapy will enjoy having animals as part of their treatment
|
4.335±1.462
|
61.9
|
Animals brought to health facilities can mostly lead to allergies in many patients**
|
2.529±1.444
|
36.1
|
Introducing animals into treatment can cause them to bite patients or clients if they are near them**
|
3.805±1.479
|
54.4
|
Animals belong in the wild or zoos, but not in hospitals**
|
5.155±1.669
|
73.6
|
Overall attitude score
|
3.845±0.748
|
54.9
|
Note. ** = Items that are reverse scored.
Perceived benefits of AAT in healthcare
The results of the assessment of the respondents about what they perceive as the benefits of AAT are presented in Table 5. The overall perceived benefit score of the respondents was 4.768±1.002 (68.1%). The top three perceived benefits of AAT by the respondents were that (i) animals can reduce stress among patients (5.626±1.383 or 80.4%), (ii) animals improve both the emotional and physical health of patients (5.121±1.586 or 73.2%) and (iii) all families should keep pets for their mental wellbeing (4.393±1.522 or 62.8%).
Table 5: Medical students’’ perceived benefit of AAT to healthcare
Perceived benefit statement
|
Attitude score (Mean ± Standard deviation)
|
Attitude score (Percentage)
|
The use of animals in therapy can facilitate patient and health worker interaction"
|
4.364±1.586
|
62.3
|
If animals are used in health facilities, they will not only improve the patient’s emotional health but also his/her physical health"
|
5.121±1.586
|
73.2
|
Using animals in health facilities can help reduce stress among patients"
|
5.626±1.383
|
80.4
|
All families should keep pets in their houses to ensure mental well-being"
|
4.393±1.522
|
62.8
|
Health professionals should recommend the use of animals for the sick"
|
4.334±1.390
|
61.9
|
Overall perceived benefit score
|
4.768±1.002
|
68.1
|
Assessment of respondents' motivation to acquire more knowledge in AAT
Results assessing the medical students' motivation to acquire more knowledge and training in AAT are shown in Table 6. Whereas the overall motivation score was 4.809±1.221 or 68.7%, the highest motivation was their desire to join any training programme that will enable them to practice AAT (5.296±1.377 or 75.7%), followed by their wish to see AAT introduced as a course of study in their university (4.888±1.534 or 69.8%). Their lowest motivation score was to the question if they will enjoy working with animals when they become health workers (4.242±1.783 or 60.6%)
Table 6: Medical students' motivation to acquire knowledge and training in AAT
Motivation assessment statement
|
Motivation score (Mean ± Standard deviation)
|
Motivation score (Percentage)
|
As a health worker, I will enjoy working with animals
|
4.242±1.783
|
60.6
|
I will be happy if Animal Assisted Therapy is introduced as a course that I can register for and study at this university
|
4.888±1.534
|
69.8
|
Joining any training programme that will equip me to help use animals to treat the sick will be great
|
5.296±1.377
|
75.7
|
Average score
|
4.809±1.221
|
68.7
|
Association between sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and their perspectives on AAT
Table 7 shows tests of association between the respondents' sociodemographic characteristics (independent variables) and their knowledge of, attitude towards, perceived benefits and motivation to be trained in AAT in the future (dependent variables). Female students were more knowledgeable, had a better attitude, had greater perceived benefits and were more motivated to study AAT than the males, but it was only in the measure of knowledge that the females were significantly better (1.5 versus 0.6; p-value = 0.006). There were no significant differences in the scores of the dependent variable among the different age groups (p-value > 0.05), although students between the ages of 21 and 24 performed better across all the dependent variables considered. In terms of religious affiliation, students ascribing to other religions besides Islam and Christianity scored better, but the differences were not statistically significant. Except for the attitude scores, in which the 6th-year medical students obtained the highest scores, for all the dependent variables, the junior most class in the clinical year (4th-year students), performed better but the differences were not significant. Interestingly, students who do not have pets at home were more knowledgeable about AAT than those who own pets, but the difference was not significant (1.1 versus 0.82; p-value = 0.683). However, those with pets had better attitudes towards AAT, and perceptions about its benefits and were more motivated to study more about AAT, even though again the differences were not statistically significant (p-value > 0.05).
Table 7: Associations of sociodemographic characteristics and respondents’ knowledge, attitude towards and motivation to use AAT in the future
|
|
|
Dependent variables
|
Independent variables
|
Subgroup
|
Frequency
|
Knowledge about AAT/10
|
p-value
|
Perceived benefits of AAT/7
|
p-value
|
Attitude towards AAT/7
|
p-value
|
Motivation to use AAT in the future/7
|
p-value
|
Sex
|
Female
|
70
|
1.56±2.785
|
0.006*
|
4.883±1.014
|
0.16
|
3.877±0.859
|
0.891
|
4.876±1.347
|
0.324
|
Male
|
136
|
0.67±2.136
|
4.709±0.994
|
3.829±0.686
|
4.775±1.156
|
Age (years)
|
21-24
|
92
|
0.99±2.246
|
0.147
|
4.976±0.909
|
0.489
|
3.942±0.831
|
0.171
|
5.072±1.142
|
0.086
|
25-29
|
97
|
0.81±2.333
|
4.631±1.044
|
3.805±0.652
|
4.629±1.262
|
>29
|
17
|
1.76±3.474
|
4.424±1.063
|
3.551±0.732
|
4.412±1.182
|
Religious affiliation
|
Christianity
|
153
|
0.92±2.387
|
0.43
|
4.812±1.015
|
0.95
|
3.909±0.762
|
0.733
|
4.863±1.224
|
0.372
|
Islam
|
50
|
0.9±2.188
|
4.584±0.956
|
3.648±0.695
|
4.593±1.209
|
Others
|
3
|
5±4.359
|
5.6±0.04
|
3.917±0.315
|
5.667±0.882
|
Where one grew up
|
Village
|
16
|
0±0
|
0.722
|
4.663±0.869
|
0.304
|
3.688±0.592
|
0.832
|
5.125±0.949
|
0.945
|
District capital
|
30
|
0.8±2.235
|
4.68±1.021
|
3.713±0.703
|
4.567±1.465
|
Town
|
34
|
1.65±3.18
|
4.524±1.019
|
3.809±0.748
|
4.696±1.006
|
Regional capital
|
24
|
0.17±0.816
|
4.667±0.965
|
3.714±0.841
|
4.833±1.362
|
City
|
102
|
1.14±2.525
|
4.916±1.013
|
3.952±0.757
|
4.863±1.219
|
Level of study
|
Level 400
|
95
|
1.09±2.415
|
0.65
|
4.874±1.000
|
0.963
|
3.869±0.853
|
0.639
|
5.0561±1.132
|
0.107
|
Level 500
|
52
|
0.98±2.675
|
4.658±0.938
|
3.75±0.638
|
4.744±1.243
|
Level 600
|
59
|
0.76±2.16
|
4.695±1.058
|
3.889±0.655
|
4.469±1.273
|
Type of family accommodation
|
Single room
|
11
|
1.45±3.236
|
0.318
|
4.455±1.265
|
0.285
|
3.602±0.561
|
0.485
|
4.758±1.274
|
0.785
|
Chamber and a Hall
|
17
|
0.59±2.425
|
4.776±1.027
|
3.904±0.931
|
|
4.509±1.415
|
Two to three-bedroom apartment
|
77
|
1.32±2.692
|
4.691±1.015
|
3.852±0.745
|
4.839±1.131
|
Four or more-bedroom apartment
|
101
|
0.71±2.041
|
4.859±0.961
|
3.856±0.740
|
4.8412±1.260
|
Currently, having a pet at home?
|
No
|
109
|
1.1±2.656
|
0.683
|
4.637±1.003
|
0.553
|
3.791±0.722
|
0.801
|
4.679±1.208
|
0.239
|
Yes
|
97
|
0.82±2.097
|
4.915±0.985
|
3.906±0.775
|
|
4.955±1.227
|
*Statistically significant
Assessment of the relationships between various continuous variables in this study (age, knowledge scores, attitude scores, perceived benefit scores, and motivation scores)
Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of age (years) against knowledge, attitude, motivation, and perceived benefit scores were all negative values. Except for knowledge (r = - 0.025; p-value = 0.722), a significant relationship existed between age and attitude (r = -0.167; p-value = 0.017), motivation (r = -0.197; p-value = 0.004) and perceived benefit (r = - 0.207; p-value = 0.003). Positive correlation and significant relationship were found between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.236; p-value = 0.001), motivation (r = 0.288; p-value < 0.001) and perceived benefit (r = 0.263; p-value < 0.001). Also, between attitude and motivation (r = 0.428; p-value < 0.001) and perceived benefit (r = 0.477; p-value < 0.001) exist a positive correlation and a significant association. A positive correlation and a significant relationship were found between motivation and perceived benefit (r = 0.600; p-value < 0.001). Table 8 shows the relationship between continuous variables age, knowledge, attitude, motivation and perceived benefits scores of respondents.
Table 8: Correlation between age, knowledge, attitude, motivation and perceived benefits scores of respondents
|
Variables
|
Variables
|
Age
|
Knowledge
|
Attitude
|
Motivation
|
Perceived benefit
|
|
r
|
p-value
|
r
|
p-value
|
r
|
p-value
|
r
|
p-value
|
r
|
p-value
|
Age (years)
|
-
|
-
|
-0.025
|
0.722
|
-0.167
|
0.017
|
-0.197
|
0.004
|
-0.207
|
0.003
|
Knowledge
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.236
|
0.001
|
0.288
|
<0.001
|
0.263
|
<0.001
|
Attitude
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.428
|
< 0.001
|
0.477
|
< 0.001
|
Motivation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.600
|
<0.001
|
Perceived benefits
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|