Animal-assisted Interventions in Health Promotion for Elderly With Dementia

Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dementia

Treatments: Other: Animal-assisted therapy; Other: Animal-assisted activity

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02008630

2012/1144-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The overall research aim of this study is to investigate changes in measures related to the risk of falls among elderly with dementia participating in animal-assisted interventions. Also relatives' experience of own and the elderly's situation during and after the intervention will be examined. The design will be a prospective and cluster randomized multicenter trial, but mixed-methods will be used to target different outcomes. The study population will be elderly (age above 65) at day care centers diagnosed with dementia, or having a cognitive deficit. The intervention will consist of 30 minutes sessions with animal-assisted activity or animal-assisted therapy two times a week for 12 weeks in groups of 4-6 participants. Control groups will receive treatment as usual. Research questions:

1. Is there an effect in use of ordinary and optional medication among elderly persons with dementia at day care centers participating in animal-assisted interventions compared to a control group?
2. Is there an effect on social interaction, quality of life, activeness and wellbeing among elderly persons with dementia at day care centers participating in animal-assisted interventions compared to a control group?
3. Is there an effect on balance among elderly persons with dementia at day care centers participating in animal-assisted therapy compared to animal-assisted activity or a control group?
4. Do relatives of elderly persons with dementia at day care centers experience a change in their own and the elderly's situation after the intervention compared with before the intervention started?

Enrollment: 122 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of dementia or having a cognitive deficit measured as a score less than 25 on Mini-Mental State Examination.

Exclusion criteria

• Fear of dogs, dog allergy or need of wheel chair

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

122 participants in 3 patient groups

Animal-assisted activity

Experimental group

Description:

30 minutes group session with animal-assisted activity twice a week for 12 weeks in groups of 4-6 participants.

Treatment:

Other: Animal-assisted activity

Animal-assisted therapy

Experimental group

Description:

30 minutes group session with animal-assisted therapy twice a week for 12 weeks in groups of 4-6 participants

Treatment:

Other: Animal-assisted therapy

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group with treatment as usual