NCT06899516

Project MILANO: Connections Between Patients With Brain Tumors and Their Pets: an Analysis of Concerns and Needs

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 65 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Context and problem In France, 61% of households own a pet, highlighting the significant role pets play in the daily lives. Patients diagnosed with brain tumors face specific challenges that may affect their ability to care their pets, including: * Progressive neurological deficits (cognitive and/or motor), limiting their autonomy, * A life-threatening prognosis. In this context, the well-being of pets when their owner's health deteriorates becomes a critical concern. Indeed: * Social isolation and the progressive loss of physical and cognitive abilities complicate pet care, particularly during prolonged hospitalizations or in the event of death, * The lack of appropriate facilities and care solutions causes stress for pets, who are often unprepared for such transitions, and adds to the emotional burden on patients. Why focus on patients with brain tumors? * These patients have specific needs due to the rapid progression of their condition, * A local study showed that 12% of patients with gliomas live alone, a significantly higher rate than in other cancer types. Patients who live alone are particularly exposed to issues related to their pet's future, * Given the high morbidity and mortality associated with brain tumors, proactive planning for pet care is particularly urgent.

Conditions

• Brain (Nervous System) Cancers

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	The Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS; Johnson, Garrity, & Stallones, 1992)	The LAPS is a established tool for measuring the emotional bond between humans and their animal companions. Animal attachment is assessed according to three factors: the bond between owners and their dogs or cats, the closeness of the human-animal relationship, and the importance of the animal in the owner's life (Johnson et al., 1992). Higher scores indicate greater attachment.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-20
• Primary completion: 2026-03-01
• Completion: 2026-03-01
• First posted: 2025-03-28
• Last updated: 2025-04-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France