The Impact of an Animal-assisted Activity on the Stress Level of Hospitalized Children

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Hospitalization in Children
• Interventions: Behavioral: Animal-assisted activity; Other: Control intervention

• Registration Number: NCT04663815
• Lead Sponsor: Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

Brief Summary

The aim of this research is to study the effect of an animal-assisted activity (AAA) on the stress level of hospitalized children.

Detailed Description

A hospitalization is a major stressor in a child's life, which can have negative effects on recovery. It is assumed that animal-assisted interventions can have a positive effect on the level of stress, but this has not yet been sufficiently researched. This study aims to measure a possible effect. Children who are hospitalized will receive an animal-assisted activity. A normal afternoon in their hospital room counts as a control activity. The stress level is measured through saliva cortisol, blood pressure, heart rhythm variability and a visual analogue stress scale.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-12-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-12-10
• Study First Posted: 2020-12-11
• Study Start: 2021-04-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-05-30
• Study Completion: 2021-06-30
• Status Verified: 2021-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-10-06
• Last Update Posted: 2021-10-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 14

Inclusion Criteria

• hospitalized in the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
• dutch and/or french speaking.

Exclusion Criteria

• decreased immunity
• multi-resistant germs
• disturbed diabetes
• fever of unknown origin
• fear of animals
• dogs or cats allergy
• cognitive impairment

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
AB arm	Animal-assisted activity	Animal-assisted activity intervention on 2nd day of hospitalization, control intervention on the 4th day of hospitalization.
AB arm	Control intervention	Animal-assisted activity intervention on 2nd day of hospitalization, control intervention on the 4th day of hospitalization.
BA arm	Animal-assisted activity	Control intervention on 2nd day of hospitalization, animal-assisted activity intervention on the 4th day of hospitalization.
BA arm	Control intervention	Control intervention on 2nd day of hospitalization, animal-assisted activity intervention on the 4th day of hospitalization.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in visual analogue stress scale	1 hour	A 10-point scale for patient self-reporting of stress. The scale ranges from 0-10 where 0 indicates a better and 10 indicates a worse outcome.
Change in saliva cortisol	1 hour	A marker of the activity of the hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis.
Change in heart rate variability (HVR)	1 hour	A marker of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.
Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure	1 hour	A marker of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UZ Brussel; 🇧🇪 Jette, Belgium