Helping Improve Pediatric Patient Outcomes
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Pediatric Cancer, Animal-Assisted Activities
In brief
This study involves two distinct activities: The first is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the efficacy and safety of therapy dog visits for children with cancer. This activity has the following specific objectives: 1. To assess the effect of therapy dog visits on psychosocial outcomes and satisfaction with care among pediatric oncology inpatients. 2. To determine whether therapy dog visits increase microbial levels on children's hands. The Investigators hypothesize that therapy dog visits will reduce patient distress, lower treatment-related anxiety, increase happiness, and improve satisfaction with hospital care. The Investigators further hypothesize that therapy dog visits (including standard hand sanitization) will not increase microbial levels on children's hands. Once the main study aims for the first study activity have been completed, the research study team will begin recruitment for the second activity. The second activity is an observational study to describe microbial levels before a dog visit, after a dog visit but before hand cleaning, and after hand cleaning. This phase will provide additional information for Aim 2 that cannot be obtained during the RCT given the nature of the RCT design. The Investigators will proceed with the observational study only if all main study activities can be completed within the study timeline.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT03471221
- Run by
- Kaiser Permanente
- People needed
- 26
- Starts
- 2018-03-19
- Expected to finish
- 2020-04-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-06-15
Who can join
Age: 5 and older, up to 17. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- English-speaking patients aged 5-17 years who have been admitted to the Seattle Children's Hospital Cancer Care Unit and who are on the oncology service irrespective of specific oncologic diagnosis, sex, race, and ethnicity.
You may not qualify if…
- Are allergic to dogs or have a sensitivity to dogs; Are afraid of dogs; Are on the bone marrow transplant service; Have isolation precautions in place per Infection Prevention policies (e.g. viral respiratory precautions, contact precautions, etc.); Skin on hands not intact (e.g. moderate to severe eczema involving the hands or other generalized skin breakdown); Have no English-speaking parent/legal guardian; Have no parent/legal guardian able to provide written consent; For observational study, unwilling or unable to pet the dog with both hands.
Where it is running
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute — Seattle, Washington, United States
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute — Seattle, Washington, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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