Impact of Human-Animal Interactions on Children With Life-Threatening Conditions and Their Parents

NCT ID: NCT04310345

Last Updated: 2024-08-19

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

74 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-03-31

Study Completion Date

2024-06-27

Brief Summary

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This study will evaluate the effects of human-animal interaction on reducing anxiety, depression, worry, and pain and enhancing quality of life in children ages 6-17 years old with a life threatening cancer and their parent caregivers.

Detailed Description

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Objectives:

* To examine the feasibility of human-animal interaction (HAI) sessions for children with a life threatening cancer and a primary caregiver, specifically to:

* To identify and document necessary modifications for a safe and feasible intervention
* To obtain recruitment estimates and determine potential recruitment barriers
* To evaluate elements of implementation fidelity (design, training, delivery/receipt of treatment, enactment)
* To verify safety
* To determine the preliminary efficacy of human-animal interaction sessions:

* On children with a life threatening cancer for the outcomes of qualify of life, anxiety, depression, worry, and pain
* On caregivers of children with a life threatening cancer for the outcomes of stress and anxiety

Exploratory Objective:

\- To explore mechanisms (reduced salivary cortisol and urinary norepinephrine levels) associated with 8 weeks of human-animal interaction.

Conditions

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Advanced Cancer Relapsed Cancer Refractory Cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Animal-Assisted Interaction

Children and their caregivers will spend approximately 10-15 minutes with a registered canine and its owner during potentially anxiety-producing visits to the clinic or hospital.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Animal-Assisted Interactions

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Child and caregivers will spend approximately 10-5 minutes with a registered canine and its owner during potentially anxiety-producing visits to the clinic or hospital.

Interventions

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Animal-Assisted Interactions

Child and caregivers will spend approximately 10-5 minutes with a registered canine and its owner during potentially anxiety-producing visits to the clinic or hospital.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Child:

* Children age 6-17 years old that have been diagnosed with advanced cancer as defined by any stage of relapsed, recurrent or refractory cancer
* Able to understand English or Spanish to complete consents and surveys

Parent or Guardian:

* Parent or guardian as determined by person who brings child to \>50% of their clinic visits
* Able to understand English or Spanish to complete consents and surveys

Exclusion Criteria

* Self-reported fear of or allergies to canines
* Cognitive impairment as identified by healthcare team or inability to complete consenting process
Minimum Eligible Age

6 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Maryjo Gilmer

Principal 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

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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R21HD097757-01

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

VICC PED 2003

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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