Hospitalization in Children
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this research is to study the effect of an animal-assisted activity (AAA) on the stress level of hospitalized children.
Detailed description
A hospitalization is a major stressor in a child's life, which can have negative effects on recovery. It is assumed that animal-assisted interventions can have a positive effect on the level of stress, but this has not yet been sufficiently researched. This study aims to measure a possible effect. Children who are hospitalized will receive an animal-assisted activity. A normal afternoon in their hospital room counts as a control activity. The stress level is measured through saliva cortisol, blood pressure, heart rhythm variability and a visual analogue stress scale.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALAnimal-assisted activity
The intervention is an animal-assisted activity consisting of a visit to Villa Samson (a place on the campus of the hospital specifically intended for patients to meet pets), where the child will work with a therapy dog for 1 hour. Under supervision, the animal is stroked and combed by the child, they play games together, the child feeds the animal, etc.
OTHERControl intervention
The control intervention reenacts a normal stay in the hospital, so the child spends one hour in the hospital room where the child can play, watch tv, etc.
Sponsors
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Randomized clinical trial.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* hospitalized in the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel * dutch and/or french speaking.
Exclusion criteria
* decreased immunity * multi-resistant germs * disturbed diabetes * fever of unknown origin * fear of animals * dogs or cats allergy * cognitive impairment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in visual analogue stress scale | 1 hour | A 10-point scale for patient self-reporting of stress. The scale ranges from 0-10 where 0 indicates a better and 10 indicates a worse outcome. |
| Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure | 1 hour | A marker of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. |
| Change in saliva cortisol | 1 hour | A marker of the activity of the hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis. |
| Change in heart rate variability (HVR) | 1 hour | A marker of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed