Impact of Facility Dog Intervention on Pediatric Patients

Part of paid clinical trials in Aurora, Colorado.

Sponsor
Children's Hospital Colorado
Study ID
NCT07221006
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Inpatients
  • Pediatric

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
8 Years - 17 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Coloring page activity led by CLAC — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants will be provided coloring pages and colored pencils or crayons led by a Child Life Activity Coordinator, and will engage in the activity for 15 minutes.
  • Mindfulness Activity led by CCLS — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants will engage in a 10 minute mindfulness activity led by a Certified Child Life Specialist who will follow a mindfulness script. Participants will hold a stress ball during the activity.
  • Mindfulness Activity led by CCLS and Facility Dog — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants will engage in a 10 minute mindfulness activity led by a Certified Child Life Specialist who will follow a mindfulness script. Participants will be able to be next to and touch the medical dog during the activity.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if medical dog intervention facilitated by a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) impacts pediatric patient coping, fear, and anxiety during inpatient admissions. The main questions it aims to answer are: What impact does facility dog support via a CCLS have on patient fear, coping, and anxiety? What effect does facility dog support via a CCLS have on patient heart rate? Researchers will compare medical dog intervention facilitated by a CCLS, CCLS intervention, and a coloring activity to see if medical dog interventions positively impact coping, fear, and anxiety. Participants will: Receive a visit from a medical dog and their CCLS handler, a CCLS, or a Child Life Activity coordinator. Engage in a mindfulness or coloring activity. Answer surveys regarding anxiety, coping, and fear. Have their heart rate measured before, during, and after their assigned intervention.

Key Dates

Start date
Dec 1, 2025
Status verified
Oct 2025
Primary completion
Dec 1, 2026
Completion
Dec 1, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
126 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: Child life specialist intervention + facility dog led mindfulness
    Participants will receive a 20-minute mindfulness coping intervention from a CCLS handler and their facility dog. The CCLS will introduce themselves and their facility dog and explain the activity, then implement a guided mindfulness activity while the child holds their hand on the facility dog's stomach/chest.
  • Active Comparator: Child life specialist led mindfulness
    Participants will receive a 20-minute mindfulness coping intervention from a CCLS. The CCLS will introduce themselves and their role and explain the activity and then implement a guided mindfulness activity while the child holds a stress ball.
  • Other: Child life activity coordinator led coloring activity
    Participants will complete a 20-minute coloring activity facilitated by a Child Life Activity Coordinator (CLAC). Children aged 8-12 years old will be provided a medical dog coloring sheet with crayons; children aged 13-17 years old will be provided an adult coloring sheet that uses a dog image and colored pencils.

Primary Outcome Measure

Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Form [ Time Frame: Baseline and approximately 15 minutes after starting the intervention. ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Children's Hospital ColoradoAuroraColorado80045
Claire Simonsen, BA
[email protected]
720-777-5313

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By research site
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