The Impact of an Animal-assisted Activity on the Stress Level of Hospitalized Children

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hospitalization in Children

Treatments: Behavioral: Animal-assisted activity; Other: Control intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04663815

Stress-HC-VS

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this research is to study the effect of an animal-assisted activity (AAA) on the stress level of hospitalized children.

Full description

A hospitalization is a major stressor in a child's life, which can have negative effects on recovery. It is assumed that animal-assisted interventions can have a positive effect on the level of stress, but this has not yet been sufficiently researched. This study aims to measure a possible effect. Children who are hospitalized will receive an animal-assisted activity. A normal afternoon in their hospital room counts as a control activity. The stress level is measured through saliva cortisol, blood pressure, heart rhythm variability and a visual analogue stress scale.

Enrollment: 14 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• hospitalized in the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
• dutch and/or french speaking.

Exclusion criteria

• decreased immunity
• multi-resistant germs
• disturbed diabetes
• fever of unknown origin
• fear of animals
• dogs or cats allergy
• cognitive impairment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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14 participants in 2 patient groups

AB arm

Other group

Description:

Animal-assisted activity intervention on 2nd day of hospitalization, control intervention on the 4th day of hospitalization.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Animal-assisted activity

Other: Control intervention

BA arm

Other group

Description:

Control intervention on 2nd day of hospitalization, animal-assisted activity intervention on the 4th day of hospitalization.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Animal-assisted activity

Other: Control intervention