NCT03017027

Effects of Animal Assisted Activity on Biobehavioral Stress Responses of Hospitalized Children: A Randomized Control Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 53 (actual)
• Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 7 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of a 10-minute therapy dog visitation (TDV) in reducing biobehavioral stress responses among hospitalized school-age children by comparing responses between TDV and non-TDV control groups.

Conditions

• Psychosocial Stress

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Therapy dog visitation (TDV)	The TDV intervention consists of a one-time 10 minute TDV with the dog handler and his/her dog interacting with the patient. The therapy dog visitation program is a currently established program and each therapy dog meets obedience, temperament, and health standards required by the organization and are deemed appropriate to therapy dog visitation. For hygienic reasons, dogs are bathed before visitation and the patient is required to wash hands before and after the visit. The TDV will be casual and not restrict the handler with conversing, which is standard practice in TDV. The therapy dog will be leashed and controlled by the dog handler. If the participant wants the dog to be placed on the bed, a clean sheet will be placed on the bed in between the dog and patient. The TDV will be casual and not restrict the handler with conversing, which is standard practice in TDV. Tactile and visual contact with the dog will be promoted.
BEHAVIORAL	non-TDV control	Participants randomized to the control condition will receive a new plush stuffed animal for the same 10-min timeframe without any structured activities. At the end of the session, a stuffed animal will be offered to the participant to keep.

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-03-01
• Primary completion: 2016-01-01
• Completion: 2016-01-01
• First posted: 2017-01-11
• Last updated: 2017-01-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States