Behavior, Mood, Physiological Responses
Conditions
Keywords
Human-animal contact, Non-invasive measure
Brief summary
In brief the study aims to investigate how nursing home residents receiving dog visits respond to contact with the dog, by comparing visits with and without a dog present. The investigators will measure the response with non-invasive measures of the immediate physiological response, and objective behavioural measurements to quantity the activity and the actual amount and intensity of contact to the dog.
Detailed description
The residents will receive six 10-minute visits, three visits with a dog and three without a dog, with a week-long break in between the two visit types. The participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the three dog visits or the three visits without a dog first. The visits will be from the same person, and the dog visits will be accompanied with the same dog each time. During dog visits, the dog will be available for touch, and the resident will be encouraged to interact with the dog. Before each visit the resident is fitted with the equipment for measuring continuously recorded physiological measures and then relaxes for 30 minutes. Immediately before and five and 30 minutes after each visit, the investigators obtain a saliva sample to detect cortisol levels. The behaviour of the participants will be video recorded during the visits to quantify the frequency and duration of predefined behavioural elements, using ethological methodology. The investigators will quantify the participants' activity during the visits as well as the frequency and duration of tactile contact with the dog, and verbal communication with the dog and the visitor. In addition, the visitor and the observer present during the visit will subjectively assess the resident's perception of the visit.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDog visits/control visits
See arm description above
BEHAVIORALControl visits/dog visits
See arm description above
Sponsors
University of Aarhus
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants from 2 nursing homes (25+25) are all receive three visit with a dog and three without a dog. It is randomised whter participents receive the dog visits first or last.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age of 65 years or more * Able to sit during visits (either in a chair or in a bed)
Exclusion criteria
* Known allergy to dogs * Known fear of dogs
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate | During visit no. 1, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | The test person wears a device placed on the upper arm |
| Heart rate variability | During visit no. 1, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | Heart rate variability is calculated from heart rate data |
| Behaviour during visits | During visit no. 1, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | The test persons behaviour is observed |
| Salivary cortisol | Visit 1, 2 minutes before visit | Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The visitor's and observer's perception of how the visit was experienced by the test person. | 5 minutes after visit 1 | Minimum value 0 (worst possible visit) to 100 (best possible visit) |
| Visual analoque scale of the testpersons' evaluation of the visit | 5 minutes after visit 1 | Minimum value 0 (worst possible experience) to 100 (best possible experience) |
Countries
Denmark
Outcome results
None listed