22 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effect of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on prosocial behavior and emotional regulation in children with developmental delay, behavioral concerns, or autism spectrum disorder. Service dog use in the pediatric population who have these concerns is increasing and more studies are indicated to determine best practice for incorporating canines into traditional therapy sessions to enhance therapeutic outcomes. The hypothesis for this study is that inclusion of the canine will enhance therapy sessions and produce a lasting effect on prosocial behavior and emotional regulation after AAT sessions have concluded.
A prospective randomized trial measuring physiologic biometrics and perceptions of stress during a pediatric dental exam, cleaning, and simulated radiographs with or without a therapy dog present.
This study will examine whether a session of animal-assisted therapy reduces anxiety levels and improves long-term clinical outcomes of outpatient psychiatric patients in regard to their Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 - Depression assessment), Three Item Loneliness scale (TIL), and Mean Arterial Blood Pressure.
Children requiring inpatient rehabilitation treatment following acquired brain injury (ABI) are at risk for poor engagement in rehabilitative therapies. A within subject crossover design will be used to determine whether involving dogs in physical and occupational therapies while receiving inpatient rehabilitation improves patient engagement, how involving dogs improves engagement, and identify who is most likely to benefit. This project addresses the critical need to establish an evidence base for animal-assisted therapies in pediatric rehabilitation, incorporates innovative methods, and has the potential to lead to improved clinical care for children and adolescents receiving intensive rehabilitation following ABI.
Patients admitted to the ED with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury defined by GCS less than or equal to 10 and confirmed by head CT scan or MRI were randomized into 2 groups: one receiving animal assisted therapy (AAT) and one not receiving animal assisted therapy. Efficacy of AAT was measured by patient's progression in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Rancho Los Amigos Scale (RLAS), and ability to follow multi-step commands (LoCmds).
The investigators hypothesize that the presence of a Mayo Clinic certified therapy dog will provide additional benefits above typical treatment for patients currently enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Stroke Rehabilitation Unit.
A cross-sectional prospective study measuring physiologic biometrics and perceptions of stress during a dental procedure with or without a therapy dog present.
The lives of more than 2 million Americans are affected by aphasia, an acquired language impairment most commonly resulting from stroke that affects the ability to remember and express words. The well-being of these individuals is affected not just by the loss of words that is aphasia, but also the loss of friendships and opportunities for community engagement in which the loss of words can result. This study evaluates an animal-assisted treatment, The Persons with Aphasia Training Dogs (PATD) Program, designed to target the psychosocial consequences of aphasia by training participants in positive reinforcement dog training techniques that harness new skill learning and the advantages of interaction with family- or shelter-dwelling dogs to increase confidence and social engagement to support participants in living well with aphasia.
This study will examine the incremental benefit of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as an adjunct intervention when combined with Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for the treatment of maltreated youth. In addition, the development of therapeutic rapport and the intensity of stress experienced during treatment sessions will be examined as mediational mechanisms of treatment outcome. This project will help determine whether a larger study to test the beneficial effects of AAT for maltreated youth is feasible and warranted.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the common symptoms leading to an Animal Assisted Therapy consult, and to measure its (AAT) influence on the symptoms and feelings of hospitalized patients.
Thousands of canines are used for therapy in health care centers throughout the United States as part of a volunteer therapy team, yet little is known about the outcomes provided by these teams. Although many studies have been published, few used randomized, controlled formats to identify whether canine therapy has an impact and any mechanisms by which any impact may occur. The purpose of this study is use a randomized, controlled setup for canine animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in patients undergoing inpatient physical therapy for stroke, Parkinson's disease, or generalized weakness deconditioning to determine whether use of AAT produces desirable outcomes, such as increased motivation, in patients.
The primary purpose for this study is to determine if children who receive Occupational Therapy while they are an inpatient in the hospital will be more motivated to participate in therapy as well as increase the amount of time they will work during that particular session when a therapy dog is present during their sessions. The investigators will also be collecting data regarding a child's heart rate and blood pressure prior to the session starting and ending to determine if having a therapy dog present also helps relax a child.
Effects of complementary therapies on heart failure, a leading cause of hospitalization, are unknown. Animal-assisted therapy improves physiological and psychosocial variables in healthy and hypertensive subjects. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 12-minute hospital visit with a therapy dog improves hemodynamics, lowers neurohormone levels, and decreases state anxiety in patients hospitalized with heart failure.
The purpose of this study is to: Aim 1: Evaluate the feasibility \[consent and refusal rates, attrition rates, length, and number of completed therapy sessions\], and acceptability \[interviews with children and guardians, overall patient and guardian satisfaction\] during inpatient physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) sessions. Hypothesis: Animal-assisted interaction (AAI) with Paro, a robotic baby harp seal, during pediatric inpatient PT/OT sessions will be feasible and acceptable. Aim 2: Assess preliminary efficacy of AAI during PT/OT sessions with Paro on behavior (anxiety and affect) and motivation to participate in rehabilitation in hospitalized children. Hypothesis: Children who use Paro will demonstrate less anxiety, more positive affect, and greater motivation to participate in therapy than those who do not use Paro. Aim 3: Test the stress, anxiety, and depression levels of parents/guardians of children who use Paro inpatient physical and occupational therapy sessions. Hypothesis: In addition, parents and guardians of children that use Paro will report less stress, anxiety, and depression compared to parents/guardians of children that do not use Paro.
The purpose of this study is to: 1. Establish the feasibility and acceptability of a therapeutic robot, Paro, for critically ill patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit 2. Explore safety considerations related to infection control \[participant hospital-acquired infection (HAI) rates, screening for the presence of microbial contamination with real-time adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing 3. Examine the therapeutic effect of Paro on patient psychological variables, physiological variables, and sedative and analgesic medication requirements.
This study investigated the human-animal interaction (HAI) and bond (HAB) between a canine trained in therapy techniques or a canine plush toy and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during animal-assisted therapy (AAT) sessions. The purpose of this study is to explore identified gaps in knowledge pertaining to AAT in pediatric ASD care management by documenting human interaction between either a live canine or the plush toy canine during AAT sessions and evaluating prosocial behaviors observed during and after AAT sessions. This study addressed the following research questions: 1. How do children with autism ages 2 to 18 years interact with a live canine during AAT sessions? 2. How do children with autism ages 2 to 18 years interact with a toy plush dog during AAT sessions? 3. Is there a difference in HAI in the live canine group and the toy plush dog group? 4. Is there a difference in prosocial behavior observed during AAT sessions between the live canine group and the toy plush dog group? 5. Is there a difference in behavior after AAT sessions between the live canine group and the toy plush dog group? Participants were randomly assigned to either the live canine or toy plush dog group. Adaptive functioning and social responsiveness evaluations were obtained to compare baseline behavior between the two groups. Participants attended an AAT session once weekly for 6 to 8 weeks. Each group received the same therapy provided by the therapist; the only difference being the incorporation of a live canine during the therapy session. Caregivers completed a weekly assessment depicting participants' positive and negative affect at the beginning of each session. Caregivers also completed a monthly assessment noting strengths and difficulties in social functioning and behavior at the start of the first, middle, and final session. AAT sessions were recorded and behavior occurring during the sessions was coded to note HAI and HAB that occurred during the sessions.
Animal assisted therapy (AAT) with dogs has been shown to be beneficial for a wide range of patients with both acute and chronic illnesses, including spinal cord injuries, heart failure, myocardial infarctions, strokes, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Studies have also demonstrated that even in healthy adults, the presence of dogs is associated with physiologic changes such as increased pain threshold, decreased blood pressure, and decreased heart rate. However, few studies have investigated the role of AAT in the post-operative course in adults. This study will investigate the impact of therapy dog visits on pain and anxiety scores for trauma patients at Boston Medical Center (BMC).
Children undergoing dental restorative or surgical procedures require injection of local anesthetic. The injection procedure is often the most anxiety-producing stimulus for children during dental care, when children demonstrate the highest level of emotional distress. Several studies have investigated various interventions, such as distraction, hypnosis, and cognitive behavioral therapy to ease this stress. Animal-assisted therapy (e.g. the presence of a therapy dog) may be a promising strategy for managing anxiety in young dental patients. However, no studies have explored the potential benefits of using therapy dogs specifically during the administration of local anesthesia in pediatric dental patients. The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effects of therapy dogs on pediatric dental patients during local anesthesia administration.
The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of therapy dogs on children's anxiety and emotional management during a visit to the pediatric emergency department.
This study will examine how animal-assisted therapy (AAT) affects aspects of pain. It will explore the possible benefits of the National Institutes of Health's AAT program on distress in cancer patients receiving pain and palliative care at the NIH Clinical Center. A number of studies on the benefits of patients interacting with companion animals have shown a positive effect of both pet ownership and AAT for patients with chronic illness. However, few such experimental studies have been conducted with cancer patients. Patients 18 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with cancer and have been referred for consult with NIH's pain and palliative care team and recreation therapy may be eligible for this study. Participants have two study sessions, each lasting about 20 minutes on two different days. In one session, they visit with an animal assistant therapy dog and its handler. In the other session they engage in a conversation that the patient identifies as non-stressful. Patients are asked to fill out four forms before and after each session with questions and statements about their pain, attitude towards pets, symptoms they might be having, and demographic information, such as age, sex, marital status, and so forth. On four separate occasions, 1 teaspoon of blood is drawn and a swab of saliva is collected from the mouth up to an hour after the session.
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if and how an animal-assisted intervention \[AAI\] using therapy dogs can support hemodialysis \[HD\] patients' treatment adherence and enhance their well-being. The main objectives are: * Objective 1: Determine if the AAI impacts patients' HD treatment adherence (primary outcome is number of unplanned missed treatments no due to hospitalization). * Objective 2: Evaluate if the AAI impacts patients' psychosocial well-being (secondary outcomes are stress, pain, mood, QOL). * Objective 3: Examine potential mechanistic biomarkers that underpin human-animal bonding (hormones tied to stress and bonding). (exploratory aim) * Objective 4: Understand patients' subjective experiences of the AAI. Participants will be asked to engage in several research tasks, including: * assessments * therapy dog visits * monthly blood draws * focus group Researchers will compare how the treatment group (those who receive 2 dogs visits per week) and the control group (those who receive 0 dog visits per week) to see if the AAI impacts treatment adherence and psychosocial well-being.
Hospital-based Animal-Assisted visitation programs are important complementary therapies, but concerns with infection control may challenge the sustainability of these programs. Pilot data suggest that a low-cost chlorhexidine-based intervention targeted to the dogs involved in the visitation programs holds high potential to prevent pathogen transmission during sessions. In this study, the following aims will be tested: 1) To identify program-related risk factors for acquisition of hospital-associated pathogens by pediatric patients during animal-assisted intervention (AAI) sessions during an initial run-in phase of no intervention; 2) To determine the effect of chlorhexidine (CHX)-based interventions on acquisition of hospital-associated pathogens and microbial communities by patients during AAI sessions via a multicenter randomized controlled trial; and 3) To determine whether the specific benefits achieved by the visitation program, i.e. reduction in blood pressure, heart rate and self-reported pain and anxiety, are impacted by the interventions.