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The Effects of Dog Intervention on Anxiety Levels in Children Undergoing an MRI Examination

NCT02411721 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 52

Last updated 2015-04-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Studies have shown that about two thirds of the children undergoing MRI suffer from feelings of anxiety ranging from mild apprehension to severe distress. Especially in young children, the unfamiliar surroundings, new faces, strange equipment and the noise generated during the scan, can cause feelings of stress and anxiety so severe that the test either cannot be started or cannot be performed properly due to the child's movements. For older children and adults claustrophobia is the main reason of poor image quality because of motion artifacts and/or early termination of the scan. Several studies have demonstrated the potential calming effects of companion animals on children but, to date, no formal studies on the relationship between dog intervention and children's anxiety before MRI procedures have been reported. The current study is designed to determine if dog intervention lessens children's anxiety prior to MRI

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Animal Assisted Intervention

1. Initial conversation between dog handler and child. The purpose hereof is to let the child express any fear he experiences towards the examination. The presence of the dog allows the child to project his emotions on the dog and to speak more freely about his anxiety. 2. The dog handler informs the child on the various stages of the procedure. For this a booklet has been prepared in which a dog is the patient undergoing an MRI-scan. The child can identify with the dog in the story, and at the same time feel comforted by the dog present. 3. Procession of emotions. The child will play freely with the dog. The purpose hereof is to create a soothing atmosphere. In stroking the soft, friendly animal the child may feel more relaxed and therefore less anxious towards the examination.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Rambam Health Care Campus

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
7 Years
Max Age
15 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-05-31
Primary Completion
2016-05-31
Completion
2016-05-31

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Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02411721 on ClinicalTrials.gov