Animal-Assisted Interactions in Children With Life-Threatening Conditions and Their Parents

NCT ID: NCT03765099

Last Updated: 2023-01-23

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

70 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-02-21

Study Completion Date

2022-12-31

Brief Summary

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This study will evaluate the effects of animal-assisted interactions (AAI) on stress, anxiety, and quality of life in children with a life-threatening condition and their parents. It is anticipated to be a milestone in understanding the human-animal bond.

Detailed Description

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Objectives:

1. Examine the feasibility of animal-assisted interactions sessions for children with a life-threatening condition and primary caregiver to:

* Identify and document modifications for a safe and feasible intervention,
* Obtain recruitment estimates and determine potential recruitment barriers
* Evaluate elements of implementation fidelity (design, training, delivery/receipt of Treatment, enactment)
* Verify safety.

H1-1: Children and parents (\>60%) will complete the interventions and provide positive acceptability data. H1-2: Implementation fidelity can be achieved with the proposed methodology
2. Determine the preliminary efficacy of animal-assisted interactions sessions for:

* Children with a life-threatening condition (LTC) for the outcome of health-related quality of life
* Children with a LTC and their primary caregivers for the outcomes of stress and anxiety

H2-1 Children with a life-threatening condition who receive animal-assisted interactions will experience improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL) more than patients who do not receive animal-assisted interactions.

H2-2a Children with life-threatening condition who receive animal-assisted interactions will experience decreased stress and anxiety more than parents of children who do not receive animal-assisted interactions.

H2-2b Primary caregivers of children with a life-threatening condition who receive animal-assisted interactions will experience decreased stress and anxiety more than parents of children who do not receive animal-assisted interactions.

Conditions

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Advanced Cancer Relapsed Cancer Refractory Cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Animal-Assisted Interactions

Children and their caregivers randomly assigned to the intervention group will spend approximately 15 min with a registered canine and its owner during potentially anxiety-producing visits to the hospital.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Animal-Assisted Interactions

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Child and caregivers randomly assigned to the intervention group will spend approximately 15 min with a registered canine and its owner during potentially anxiety-producing visits to the hospital.

Usual Care

Children and their caregivers randomly assigned to the usual care group will receive usual care which may include play therapy, music therapy or visits with a social worker during their visits to the hospital.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Animal-Assisted Interactions

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Child and caregivers randomly assigned to the intervention group will spend approximately 15 min with a registered canine and its owner during potentially anxiety-producing visits to the hospital.

Interventions

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Animal-Assisted Interactions

Child and caregivers randomly assigned to the intervention group will spend approximately 15 min with a registered canine and its owner during potentially anxiety-producing visits to the hospital.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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AAI

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Children 3-17 years old
* Confirmed diagnosis of relapsed or refractory cancer

Exclusion Criteria

* Reported fear or anxiety of dogs (child or parent)
Minimum Eligible Age

3 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

17 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Human Animal Bond Research Institute

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Maryjo Gilmer

Sponsor Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Maryjo Gilmer, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Vanderbilt Medical Center

Locations

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Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Mahoney AB, Akard TF, Cowfer BA, Dietrich MS, Newton JL, Gilmer MJ. Impact of Animal-Assisted Interaction on Anxiety in Children With Advanced Cancer and Their Caregivers. J Palliat Med. 2024 Jan;27(1):75-82. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0091. Epub 2023 Sep 25.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37751186 (View on PubMed)

Cowfer BA, Akard TF, Gilmer MJ. Animal-Assisted Interventions for Children with Advanced Cancer: Child and Parent Perceptions. Palliat Med Rep. 2021 Nov 17;2(1):328-334. doi: 10.1089/pmr.2021.0039. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34927159 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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VICC PED 18166

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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