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Not yet recruiting NCT07221006

Impact of Facility Dog Intervention on Pediatric Patients

No phase Interventional Inpatients Pediatric

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Coloring page activity led by CLAC, Mindfulness Activity led by CCLS, Mindfulness Activity led by CCLS and Facility Dog.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Inpatients, Pediatric. Basic parameters: 8 years — 17 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
United States
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

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Official title

Investigating the Impact of Facility Dog Intervention on Pediatric Patient Fear, Coping, and Anxiety During Inpatient Admission

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if medical dog intervention facilitated by a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) impacts pediatric patient coping, fear, and anxiety during inpatient admissions. The main questions it aims to answer are: What impact does facility dog support via a CCLS have on patient fear, coping, and anxiety? What effect does facility dog support via a CCLS have on patient heart rate? Researchers will compare medical dog intervention facilitated by a CCLS, CCLS intervention, and a coloring activity to see if medical dog interventions positively impact coping, fear, and anxiety. Participants will: Receive a visit from a medical dog and their CCLS handler, a CCLS, or a Child Life Activity coordinator. Engage in a mindfulness or coloring activity. Answer surveys regarding anxiety, coping, and fear. Have their heart rate measured before, during, and after their assigned intervention.

Interventions

  • Behavioral Coloring page activity led by CLAC
    Participants will be provided coloring pages and colored pencils or crayons led by a Child Life Activity Coordinator, and will engage in the activity for 15 minutes.
  • Behavioral Mindfulness Activity led by CCLS
    Participants will engage in a 10 minute mindfulness activity led by a Certified Child Life Specialist who will follow a mindfulness script. Participants will hold a stress ball during the activity.
  • Behavioral Mindfulness Activity led by CCLS and Facility Dog
    Participants will engage in a 10 minute mindfulness activity led by a Certified Child Life Specialist who will follow a mindfulness script. Participants will be able to be next to and touch the medical dog during the activity.

Primary outcome measures

  • Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Form [Time frame: Baseline and approximately 15 minutes after starting the intervention.]
  • Children's Fear Scale [Time frame: Baseline and approximately 15 minutes after starting the intervention.]
  • Coping Questionnaire - Child [Time frame: Approximately 15 minutes after starting the intervention.]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
  • Heart Rate [Time frame: Baseline, before the intervention, 5 minutes after intervention start, post-intervention (approximately 15 minutes after intervention start).]
  • Parent Survey [Time frame: Before the intervention.]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Children admitted to an inpatient unit at Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
  • Who are eight to 17 years old.

Exclusion criteria

  • Isolation precautions
  • Primary reason for admission is due to suicidality, self-injurious behavior, or injurious behavior
  • Patients with history of or currently presenting with aggression or unsafe behavior
  • Severe comorbidities secondary to traumatic brain injury, neurological disorder or neurodevelopmental issues that may confound study outcomes and administration of the study protocol (e.g., intellectual disability)
  • Not medically stable
  • Have a fear of dogs
  • Have an allergy to dogs
  • Have had a visit from a medical dog and medical dog handler during their current admission
  • Patient has an urgent or time-sensitive need requiring medical dog support - Patient is non-verbal.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Open label
Primary purpose
Supportive care

Study locations

United States · 1 center
  • Children's Hospital Colorado — Aurora

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07221006 · 25-1381

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗