Therapy dog visits for hospitalized trauma patients
Official title: Therapy Dog Visits for Patients Hospitalized With Traumatic Injuries
Run by Boston Medical Center · NCT06812247 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether short visits from therapy dogs reduce pain and anxiety in adults hospitalized with traumatic injuries.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Boston Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 4, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 2026 |
| Study ends | December 2026 |
| Registry record updated | June 16, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06812247 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
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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
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.