The Impact of Therapy Dogs on Anxiety and Emotional Management in the Pediatric Emergency Department

University of Louisville (UOFL)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Emotional Regulation; Anxiety

Treatments: Behavioral: 10-minute visit with therapy dog and child life specialist handler

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04942678

21.0190

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of therapy dogs on children's anxiety and emotional management during a visit to the pediatric emergency department.

Enrollment: 41 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 12 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children with a SUD score of 30 or higher indicated by the caregiver

Exclusion criteria

• Active infection: abscesses, fever, respiratory issues, vomiting
• Patients presenting for burn care, dog bite, ESI triage category 1 or 2, or transferred from outside facilities
• Sterile procedures
• Oncology patients / patients with known neutropenia in past medical history
• Parent/caregiver or patient fear of dogs
• Parent/caregiver or patient allergy to dogs
• Dog bite injury
• Already underwent procedure during their visit

Trial design

41 participants in 2 patient groups

Pediatric patients ages 4-7 years old in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Description:

Patients will receive a 10-minute visit with therapy dog and child life handler

Treatment:

Behavioral: 10-minute visit with therapy dog and child life specialist handler

Pediatric patients ages 8-12 years old in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Description:

Patients will receive a 10-minute visit with therapy dog and child life handler

Treatment:

Behavioral: 10-minute visit with therapy dog and child life specialist handler