RECRUITINGINTERVENTIONAL

Therapy Dog Visits for Patients Hospitalized With Traumatic Injuries

About This Trial

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).

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Patients admitted to the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (TACS) service following a trauma - English or Spanish speaking - Able to provide willing to sign a consent form Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Fear of dogs, allergy to dogs - Immunocompromised - Contact precautions - Delirious, intubated, or otherwise unable to consent Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

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

Treatments Being Tested

OTHER

Therapy dog visits

2-3 ten-minute visits by a trained therapy dog and the dog's handler

OTHER

Dog handler visits

2-3 ten-minute visits by a dog handler

Locations (1)

Boston Medical Center, Trauma Inpatient Service

Boston, Massachusetts, United States