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

NCT03017027 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 53

Last updated 2017-01-11

No results posted yet for this study

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

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Sandra M Branson, PhD, MSN, RN · The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-03-31
Primary Completion
2016-01-31
Completion
2016-01-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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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 NCT03017027 on ClinicalTrials.gov