Effectiveness of Dog-Assisted Therapy on Compliance and Home Oral Hygiene Activities in Disabled Patients

University of Turin

Status: Completed

Conditions: Oral Hygiene, Oral Health; Disabilities; Dog Therapy

Treatments: Other: Oral hygiene with dog therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06713928

0000793

Details and patient eligibility

About

Recent scientific studies have shown how interaction with an animal can alleviate particular conditions of stress and conflict, thus representing a solid support for minor patients with social behavior problems or with physical or mental disabilities. In this co-therapy, a fundamental role is played by the relationship that is established between the human being and the animal, a very particular relationship capable of bringing about positive changes, in both members, but especially in the man who, benefiting from this push for change, can improve his own situation, whatever it is, and follow with greater interest and involvement the actual therapy activities proposed by the team that is following him.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 16 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients had to be between 5 and 16 years old;
• Patients with disability;
• Non-collaborating or with limited collaboration (Frankl Scale 1 or 2);
• Patients with a Plaque Control Record (PCR) of 40% or more;
• Patients with partial autonomy in home oral hygiene procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with fear of dogs;
• Patients with dog hair allergy;
• Patients with infectious disease;
• Tetraplegic and visually impaired subjects.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

80 participants in 2 patient groups

Oral hygiene with dog therapy

Experimental group

Description:

use the DAT to support the oral hygiene procedures provided.

Treatment:

Other: Oral hygiene with dog therapy

Oral hygiene without dog therapy

No Intervention group

Description:

make oral hygiene without any type of support