Canine-Assisted Anxiety Reduction In Emergency Care

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Anxiety; Children; Therapy Dog; Opioid Use
• Interventions: Behavioral: Dog + handler; Behavioral: No dog

• Registration Number: NCT03784573
• Lead Sponsor: Indiana University

Brief Summary

Compare the effect of a single exposure to a therapy dog and handler within the pediatric emergency department patient with anxiety by measuring the change in patient perception of anxiety before and after dog exposure using the FACES scale. We will also measure galvanic skin response (resistance to electrical current).

Detailed Description

This study challenges current dogma by introducing a widely available, low cost method of dog therapy to reduce patient stress. The organization "Paws of Love" estimates that it has 180,000 volunteers who have qualified therapy dogs and who are generally willing to volunteer their time in emergency care. The benefits may include improved perception of wellness, less opioid use, and decreased use of physical and chemical restraints. As a further extrapolation, this secondary effect may extend to improved patient-doctor communication and patient experience. This will in turn improve patient safety in the Emergency Department, decreasing the number of adverse events, and decreasing the risk of medical malpractice by improving the patient-provider relationship. (6, 7)

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-12-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-12-20
• Study First Posted: 2018-12-24
• Study Start: 2019-01-07
• Primary Completion: 2024-06-30
• Study Completion: 2024-06-30
• Status Verified: 2024-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-07-16
• Last Update Posted: 2024-07-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

• 4-17 years old;
• Physician or nurse with primary care responsibilities believes that the patients has a moderate to high level of anxiety

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Exclusion Criteria

• violent behavior and any reported prior fear or adverse reaction to dogs in the dog intervention group.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Dog + handler	Dog + handler	-
No dog	No dog	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in anxiety level of subject	45 minutes	Change in anxiety level of subject with the use of the FACES scale

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Physical restrain use	4 hours	Number of times physical restraints are used
Perception of anxiety level from physician	60 minutes	Change in perception anxiety level of subject with the use of the FACES scale
Perception of pain level from physician	60 minutes	Change in perception of pain level of subject with the use of a Wong-Baker Faces pain scale
Perception of pain level from parent(s)	60 minutes	Change in perception of pain level of subject by the parent(s) with the use of a Wong-Baker Faces pain scale
Meds	4 hours	Number of medications used to reduce anxiety in the different arms
Perception of anxiety level from parent(s)	60 minutes	Change in perception of anxiety level of subject by their parent(s) with the use of the FACES scale

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

IU Health Riley Children's Hospital; 🇺🇸 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States