Therapy Dog Visits for Patients Hospitalized With Traumatic Injuries

Boston Medical Center (BMC)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Anger; Trauma Injury; Depression; Anxiety; Pain

Treatments: Other: Therapy dog visits; Other: Dog handler visits

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06812247

H45457

Details and patient eligibility

About

Animal assisted therapy (AAT) with dogs has been shown to be beneficial for a wide range of patients with both acute and chronic illnesses, including spinal cord injuries, heart failure, myocardial infarctions, strokes, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Studies have also demonstrated that even in healthy adults, the presence of dogs is associated with physiologic changes such as increased pain threshold, decreased blood pressure, and decreased heart rate. However, few studies have investigated the role of AAT in the post-operative course in adults. This study will investigate the impact of therapy dog visits on pain and anxiety scores for trauma patients at Boston Medical Center (BMC).

Full description

This study will be a randomized control design. Within 48 hours of admission, the study team will approach eligible patients admitted to the inpatient trauma service to discuss the study and obtain informed consent from patients expected to be admitted for 3-7 days. Consenting patients will be randomized to either a) participate in 2-3 ten-minute dog visits or b) receive 2-3 ten-minute visits with a handler alone. Within 24 hours after the last anticipated study visit, a member of the study team will administer a survey to assess participants' pain, depression, anxiety, mood, and emotional quality of life.

Enrollment: 80 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients admitted to the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (TACS) service following a trauma
• English or Spanish speaking
• Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Fear of dogs, allergy to dogs
• Immunocompromised
• Contact precautions
• Delirious, intubated, or otherwise unable to consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

Therapy dog visits

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomized into this arm will receive visits from a therapy dog and their handler during hospitalization.

Treatment:

Other: Therapy dog visits

Dog handler visits

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants randomized into this arm will receive visits from a dog handler during hospitalization.

Treatment:

Other: Dog handler visits