NCT05820308

Companion Dog Walking for ICU Survivor Health

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing a Companion Dog-Walking Intervention to an Attention Control Education Intervention on the Psychological Health of Adult Intensive Care Unit Survivors

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 6 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Missouri, Kansas City · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a randomized controlled trial comparing a pet dog walking intervention to an attention control education intervention in adult intensive care unit survivors. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * What is the feasibility of a pet dog-walking intervention compared to an attention control education intervention on depression, anxiety, cortisol, and quality of life for adult ICU survivors. * What is the acceptability of a pet dog-walking intervention compared to an attention control education intervention on depression, anxiety, cortisol, and quality of life for adult ICU survivors. The secondary question\[s\] it aims to answer are: \- What are the differences in depression, anxiety, serum cortisol, and quality of life between and within a companion dog walking intervention compared to an attention control education intervention for ICU survivors? Participants in the intervention group will be asked to: * Participate in dog walking with their pet dog at least three times per week, for at least 10 minutes each walk, for 8-weeks. * Wear an activity monitor and record their dog walks in a diary. * Complete surveys to measure depression, anxiety, and quality of life at the start of the study, after week 4, and after week 8. * Have blood drawn to measure cortisol levels at the start of the study, after week 4, and after week 8. Participants in the control group will be asked to: * Read educational materials about their pet dog's health once every week (education materials are provided by the researchers). * Wear an activity monitor and record when they read their education materials in a diary. * Complete surveys to measure depression, anxiety, and quality of life at the start of the study, after week 4, and after week 8. * Have blood drawn to measure cortisol levels at the start of the study, after week 4, and after week 8. Participants will be assigned to an intervention group or a control group to see if there are differences in depression, anxiety, serum cortisol, and quality of life.

Conditions

• Post Intensive Care Syndrome
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Quality of Life

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Companion Dog Walking	Participants will be asked to walk their dog three times per week, for a minimum of 30 minutes each day of walking, over an 8-week period.
BEHAVIORAL	Attention Control Group	Participants will be asked to read educational materials on dog health once per week, over an 8-week period.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-05-15
• Primary completion: 2024-05-01
• Completion: 2024-05-01
• First posted: 2023-04-19
• Last updated: 2024-05-10

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States