Title: Urinary Oxytocin Levels in Children Receiving Animal-Assisted Therapy
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 50
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in oxytocin levels
Study Overview
Brief Summary
There has been growing interest in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in recent decades due to increasing reports indicating its health benefits for adult patients. These benefits are partly attributed to changes, usually increased levels of the neuropeptide oxytocin.
Aim: To investigate changes in oxytocin levels in hospitalized children during animal-assisted therapy sessions with a certified hospital dog.
Method: Urine samples were collected from 35 hospitalized children (3-17 years) before and after each participant had a session with the hospital dog. Oxytocin levels were analysed with an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Creatinine levels were measured to determine the subject's fluid intake and then divided by the hormonal concentration (uOT pg/mg).
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 3 Years to 17 Years (Child)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Hospitalized children
Exclusion Criteria
- •Multiresistent bacteria
- •Immunosuppressed
- •Large burns
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in oxytocin levels
Time Frame: Day of enrollment
Concentration of oxytocin (pg/mg) in urine samples measured by ELISA.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported