Therapy Dog Visits for Injury

Overseen By Sara Myers, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Boston Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Fear of dogs, allergy, immunocompromised, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 3-7 days

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if visits from therapy dogs can reduce pain and anxiety for trauma patients recovering at Boston Medical Center. Participants will receive visits either from a therapy dog and its handler or just from the handler. Ideal participants are those who have experienced trauma, are receiving care in the hospital's Trauma and Acute Care Surgery service, and can communicate in English or Spanish. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance patient care.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that therapy dog visits are safe for trauma patients?

Research has shown that therapy dog visits are generally safe for hospital patients. These visits can reduce pain, anxiety, and depression while improving overall well-being. For instance, one study found that therapy dog visits significantly boosted the mental health of emergency room patients compared to those who didn't have such visits.

However, some risks exist. Therapy dogs might carry germs that could be passed to patients or visitors, though this is rare. In one instance, eight patients developed infections after a dog visit, but it wasn't clear if the dogs were the cause.

Overall, therapy dog visits are usually well-received and provide comfort to many people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about therapy dog visits for injuries because they introduce a unique, non-pharmacological approach to patient care. Unlike traditional treatments that focus on medication or physical therapies, therapy dog visits aim to improve emotional well-being and reduce stress through human-animal interaction. This method could potentially enhance recovery and patient satisfaction by providing comfort and companionship during hospitalization. Additionally, the trial is comparing therapy dog visits to visits from just a dog handler, which may help pinpoint the specific benefits derived directly from the presence of the therapy dog itself.

What evidence suggests that therapy dog visits might be an effective treatment for trauma patients?

Research has shown that visits from therapy dogs can greatly aid patient recovery from various health issues. In this trial, participants in one arm will receive visits from a therapy dog and their handler during hospitalization. Studies have found that patients who spend time with therapy dogs often experience less pain and improved mood. For example, one study found that people who interacted with therapy dogs reported less pain than those who did not. Therapy dogs also help reduce anxiety and stress, which is important for healing. These findings suggest that therapy dog visits could benefit trauma patients by potentially lowering their pain and anxiety levels. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Sabrina Sanchez, MD MPH

Principal Investigator

Boston Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients at Boston Medical Center who have been hospitalized due to traumatic injuries. It aims to see if visits from therapy dogs can help with their recovery by reducing pain and anxiety.

Inclusion Criteria

I was admitted for surgery after a trauma.

Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Contact precautions

Fear of dogs or allergy to dogs

Delirious, intubated, or otherwise unable to consent

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive 2-3 ten-minute visits with either a therapy dog and handler or a handler alone during hospitalization

3-7 days

2-3 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for pain, depression, anxiety, mood, and emotional quality of life 24 hours after the last study visit

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Therapy Dog Visits

Trial Overview

The study is testing the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) using therapy dog visits on trauma patients' well-being. Specifically, it will measure changes in pain and anxiety levels after these visits.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Therapy dog visits Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

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

Group II: Dog handler visits Active Control 1 Intervention

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

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Boston Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

410

Recruited

890,000+

Boston Medical Center Healing Pups Program

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

80+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A therapy dog program at a burn center showed positive effects on patient pain and anxiety levels, with all patients expressing a desire for more sessions with the dogs after one year.

Staff members also reported high satisfaction with the therapy dog visits, noting improved mood and a strong interest in continuing the program, indicating its feasibility and acceptability in a burn rehabilitation setting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of the implementation of a therapy dog program on burn center patients and staff. Pruskowski, KA., Gurney, JM., Cancio, LC.[2020]

Animal-assisted therapy, particularly with trained therapy dogs, has been shown to provide significant pain relief, supported by both subjective reports and objective measures such as decreased catecholamines and increased endorphins in humans.

The therapeutic benefits of therapy dog visits may be explained by various mechanisms, including mirror neuron activity and the dogs' olfactory abilities, which help them connect with humans during these interactions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The science behind animal-assisted therapy. Marcus, DA.[2021]

A study involving 16 anxious children aged 6 to 12 showed that the presence of a certified therapy dog during dental examinations significantly improved patient compliance and satisfaction, with all participants completing their visits successfully.

Salivary cortisol levels, an indicator of stress, decreased more in the presence of the therapy dog (30% reduction) compared to when the dog was absent (20% reduction), suggesting that therapy dogs can help reduce anxiety in pediatric dental patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT. Gussgard, AM., Carlstedt, K., Meirik, M.[2023]

A study involving 50 children in a Swedish paediatric surgery ward found that their well-being significantly improved after interacting with a therapy dog, with feelings shifting from mixed to predominantly positive.

93% of the children rated their experience with the therapy dog as very good, indicating that animal-assisted therapy can be an effective complementary treatment in enhancing children's hospital experiences.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Children report positive experiences of animal-assisted therapy in paediatric hospital care. Lindström Nilsson, M., Funkquist, EL., Edner, A., et al.[2021]

This study is the first to evaluate the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on injured service members, specifically 24 participants in an Occupational Therapy Life Skills program, aiming to support their reintegration.

While no significant differences were found in measured outcomes, participants reported positive emotional experiences with therapy dogs, indicating potential benefits in mood and stress management, suggesting AAT may be a valuable addition to rehabilitation programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of animal-assisted therapy on wounded warriors in an Occupational Therapy Life Skills program. Beck, CE., Gonzales, F., Sells, CH., et al.[2012]

A study involving patients from Behavioral Health and Pediatrics units showed that spending time with a therapy dog significantly reduced anxiety levels, as measured by the State Anxiety Scale.

Both adult and child participants experienced a notable decrease in anxiety after a 15-minute interaction with the therapy dog, supporting the effectiveness of pet therapy as an intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using Pet Therapy to Decrease Patients' Anxiety on Two Diverse Inpatient Units. Mulvaney-Roth, P., Jackson, C., Bert, L., et al.[2023]

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Therapy dog visits significantly reduced pain, anxiety, depression, and improved well-being in ED patients compared to control groups.

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