Therapy Dog Visits for Patients Hospitalized With Traumatic Injuries
Recruiting · NCT06812247 · Interventional (participants receive a specific treatment) · Lead sponsor: Boston Medical Center
View the official record on ClinicalTrials.gov →Interventions studied
What this trial is 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).
Who can take part
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
Where it is running
1 location listed across 1 US state.
- Boston Medical Center, Trauma Inpatient Service - Boston, Massachusetts, United States