None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether different forms of environmental enrichment (EE) can improve wound healing after a laboratory stress task. The current study will estimate wound healing using the tape stripping model to assess skin barrier recovery.. During the experimental session, participants will be randomised to one of three groups which will either receive an EE item or not (music, Paro or control group). The hypothesis for this study states that the two EE groups (Paro and music groups) will have improved wound healing throughout the session, as assessed by trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) measures, than the control group who does not receive a form of EE. The EE groups are also expected to have improved mood and stress scores as assessed by the questionnaires after interacting with their form of EE when compared to the control group. There are no specific hypotheses for any possible differences in skin barrier recovery or mood and stress for the three EE groups as no research has yet to directly compare these forms of EE.
Interventions
Intervention: Interaction with Environmental Enrichment Item
Participants will be exposed to a laboratory stress task (the Trier Social Stress Task) and to a tape stripping procedure which removes the top-layer of skin through the repeated application of tape. This procedure is a non-invasive and minimally painful method to assess wound healing in humans.
After the tape-stripping procedure has been performed,participants will be randomised to 1 of 3 conditions where they will (or will not) recei
Intervention: Interaction with Environmental Enrichment Item Participants will be exposed to a laboratory stress task (the Trier Social Stress Task) and to a tape stripping procedure which removes the top-layer of skin through the repeated application of tape. This procedure is a non-invasive and minimally painful method to assess wound healing in humans. After the tape-stripping procedure has been performed,participants will be randomised to 1 of 3 conditions where they will (or will not) receive a different type of enrichment item. They will be asked to interact with this enrichment item during a 30 minute recovery period. There will be two different environmental enrichment items and a control group. The enrichment items include; relaxing music which will be presented using a CD player and headphones and a seal companion robot, Paro. The Paro seal robot proposed for one of the conditions is a therapeutic robot designed to provide a safer alternative to animal-assisted therapy. Paro uses sensors to respond to human contact in a socially supportive and comforting way and has a soft fur coat to provide tactile comfort. The intervention will only be delivered to the participants in a one-off, two hour session. This procedure will occur in a research clinic at the University of Auckland
Sponsors
The University of Auckland
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Over 16 years of age Can read and write in English fluently Can provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Are allergic to tape or adhesives Have an inflammatory skin disorder Are taking medication that affects the immune system (e.g. antibiotics or corticosteroids) Are pregnant Cannot write or read in English fluently Are under 16 years of age Participated in an earlier study of the same topic
Outcome results
None listed