Jessie P.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect on blood pressure of interaction with a pet in elderly nursing home patients. To conduct this study, thirty-seven elderly nursing home patients were subjected to interaction with a domestic animal. Blood pressure measurements were taken before and after this brief interaction to determine if any effects existed.
The data collected revealed that there was no apparent effect of interaction with a dog on blood pressure measurements in these subjects. The average systolic measurement before the interaction with the dog was 135mm Hg and the average systolic measurement after the interaction with the dog was 133 mm Hg. The average diastolic measurement before the interaction with the dog was 78mm Hg and the average diastolic measurement after the interaction with the dog was 82mm Hg. Twelve subjects' systolic blood pressure increased after the interaction with the dog and twenty-two subjects' systolic measurements decreased after the interaction with the dog. Nineteen subjects' diastolic blood pressure increased after the interaction with the dog and seventeen subjects diastolic blood pressure decreased after the interaction with the dog. No change in systolic blood pressure measurement was detected in three subjects and one subject's diastolic blood pressure measurement.
Therefore, the hypothesis that when elderly nursing home patients are exposed to a pet, their blood pressure will decrease was not supported.