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A Pilot Study on Animal-Assisted Intervention in Correctional Settings

NCT06968351 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 156

Last updated 2025-08-01

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress are particularly prevalent among incarcerated individuals and are considered risk factors for recidivism. Leveraging the natural human-animal bond, animal-assisted intervention (AAI) offers a less threatening alternative to engage incarcerated individuals and address their mental health needs. As an initial effort to help promote rehabilitative security in Hong Kong, the current study examines the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief animal-assisted program among offenders in local secured facilities.

Conditions

  • Psychological Wellbeing
  • Animal-assisted Intervention

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Animal-Assisted Intervention

A brief animal-assisted intervention is offered on a group basis across four sessions. Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes and covers the same themes but through different exercises. These themes include effective communication, behavioral principles, problem-solving, and teamwork. The first part of a session involves learning to give effective single-component commands to a rehabilitative dog under the guidance of a professional dog handler. The second part of a session involves the applications of two or more of these single-component commands to an interactive group activity. Project staff are present at each session to facilitate discussions among participants on any challenges encountered, learning, and intra- as well as inter-personal experiences during the session.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Hong Kong Correctional Services Department

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • The University of Hong Kong

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-06-02
Primary Completion
2025-12-31
Completion
2025-12-31

Countries

  • Hong Kong

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 NCT06968351 on ClinicalTrials.gov