Effectiveness of Equine-assisted Learning on Psychosocial Well-being Among Nurses

OBJECTIVE: Nurse burnout poses a significant risk to workforce stability. This study investigated the impact of equine-assisted learning (EAL) on secondary traumatic stress, job burnout, subjective distress, and resiliency among nurses. BACKGROUND: Effective interventions for early detection and management of stress and burnout are essential for workforce stability. METHODS: Using a pre-post-interventional design, this study evaluated the impact of EAL on psychosocial well-being. Outcomes were measured using self-reported questionnaires at baseline, postintervention, and 1-month follow-up. Linear mixed models were used to assess score differences over time. RESULTS: EAL significantly reduced secondary stress by an average of 6.83 (P<0.001), job burnout by a mean drop of 6.45 (P<0.05), and subjective distress by a mean decrease of 9.02 (P<0.01) at 1-month follow-up, while resilience showed a short-term increase postintervention by 1.4 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Implementing EAL for nurses may enhance nurses' well-being and improve the quality of patient care.