Therapy dog visits for hospitalized trauma patients
Therapy Dog Visits for Patients Hospitalized With Traumatic Injuries
NA · Boston Medical Center · NCT06812247
This project will test whether short visits from therapy dogs reduce pain and anxiety in adults hospitalized with traumatic injuries.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Boston Medical Center (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT06812247 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized controlled design enrolling adults admitted to the trauma service at Boston Medical Center. Within 48 hours of admission, eligible and consenting patients expected to stay 3–7 days will be randomized to receive either 2–3 ten-minute visits from a therapy dog and handler or 2–3 ten-minute visits from a handler alone. Outcomes including pain, depression, anxiety, mood, and emotional quality of life will be measured by survey within 24 hours after the last study visit. The trial excludes patients with dog allergies or fear, immunocompromise, contact precautions, or inability to provide consent.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adult trauma inpatients at Boston Medical Center who speak English or Spanish, can provide informed consent, and are expected to remain hospitalized 3–7 days are ideal candidates, provided they are not immunocompromised, allergic to or fearful of dogs, or on contact precautions.
Not a fit: Patients who are allergic to or afraid of dogs, immunocompromised, on contact precautions, delirious, intubated, or otherwise unable to consent are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, brief therapy dog visits could reduce pain and anxiety, improve mood and emotional quality of life, and possibly reduce reliance on pain medications during recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Animal-assisted therapy has produced physiologic and psychological benefits in multiple patient groups, but randomized data specifically in adult post-operative or inpatient trauma populations are limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients admitted to the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (TACS) service following a trauma * English or Spanish speaking * Able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Fear of dogs, allergy to dogs * Immunocompromised * Contact precautions * Delirious, intubated, or otherwise unable to consent
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston Medical Center, Trauma Inpatient Service — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sabrina Sanchez, MD MPH — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Sabrina Sanchez, MD MPH
- Email: sabrina.sanchez@bmc.org
- Phone: 617 414 4861
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Trauma Injury, Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Pain, Therapy dogs, Healing pups, Animal assisted therapy