A Pilot Study on Animal-Assisted Intervention in Correctional Settings

NCT ID: NCT06968351

Last Updated: 2025-08-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 156 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-06-02
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

Mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress are particularly prevalent among incarcerated individuals and are considered risk factors for recidivism. Leveraging the natural human-animal bond, animal-assisted intervention (AAI) offers a less threatening alternative to engage incarcerated individuals and address their mental health needs. As an initial effort to help promote rehabilitative security in Hong Kong, the current study examines the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief animal-assisted program among offenders in local secured facilities.

Conditions

Psychological Wellbeing; Animal-assisted Intervention

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Treatment

Participants are assigned to a brief animal-assisted intervention that is offered on a group basis across four sessions. Each of the four sessions lasts approximately 60 minutes. In addition to questionnaire data prior to and after the treatment, participants will provide physiological and questionnaire data at both the beginning and the end of each session.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Animal-Assisted Intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A brief animal-assisted intervention is offered on a group basis across four sessions. Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes and covers the same themes but through different exercises. These themes include effective communication, behavioral principles, problem-solving, and teamwork. The first part of a session involves learning to give effective single-component commands to a rehabilitative dog under the guidance of a professional dog handler. The second part of a session involves the applications of two or more of these single-component commands to an interactive group activity. Project staff are present at each session to facilitate discussions among participants on any challenges encountered, learning, and intra- as well as inter-personal experiences during the session.

Interventions

Animal-Assisted Intervention

A brief animal-assisted intervention is offered on a group basis across four sessions. Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes and covers the same themes but through different exercises. These themes include effective communication, behavioral principles, problem-solving, and teamwork. The first part of a session involves learning to give effective single-component commands to a rehabilitative dog under the guidance of a professional dog handler. The second part of a session involves the applications of two or more of these single-component commands to an interactive group activity. Project staff are present at each session to facilitate discussions among participants on any challenges encountered, learning, and intra- as well as inter-personal experiences during the session.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

AAI; Dog Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• persons-in-custody
• aged 18 or older
• understand Cantonese

Exclusion Criteria

• an allergy, a fear, or a dislike toward dogs
• a history of aggression toward animals
• a criminal history involving animals
• a history of neurodevelopmental disorders
• active psychosis or mania
• active suicidality

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Hong Kong Correctional Services Department

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Amanda Kingsze CHEUNG

Research Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Hong Kong Correctional Services Department

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Hong Kong

Central Contacts

Director

Role: CONTACT

idpclab@hku.hk

+852-39175889

Facility Contacts

Senior Clinical Psychologist (PSS1)

Role: primary

email@csd.gov.hk

+852-25981936

Other Identifiers

EA240679

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id