The Presence of a Therapy Dog Reduces Pain and Anxiety During Pediatric Elbow Pin Removal
- Conditions
- Elbow Injury
- Interventions
- Behavioral: No Dog PresentBehavioral: Dog is Present
- Registration Number
- NCT05830201
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this research study is to assess whether the presence of therapy dogs can reduce pain and anxiety in children ages 3 to 10 having pins removed from their elbow.
- Detailed Description
This procedure is done in an outpatient clinic 3-4 weeks after the pins are placed and can be uncomfortable and cause anxiety in some patients. Therapy dogs are trained to sit calmly with a patient on or near the exam table as a distraction from procedures.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 50
- presenting to clinic for elbow pin removal post elbow fracture surgery
- dog allergy
- fear of dogs
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Control Group No Dog Present Dog will not be in room when child has elbow pins removed Therapy Dog Group Dog is Present The dog will come in a few minutes before to meet with you and your child and ensure ease. The therapy dog will be present throughout the procedure and is able to sit on the exam table if desired.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Pain Response 1 year Wong-Baker FACES scale, a validated scale for assessing pain in pediatric patients, will be used to compare pain response; The scale contains a series of six faces ranging from a happy face at 0 to indicate "no hurt" to a crying face at 10 to indicate "hurts worst."
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Anxiety Response 1 year anxiety response will be assessed with heart rate in beats per minute
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
UAB
🇺🇸Birmingham, Alabama, United States