Therapy Dog Visits for Patients Hospitalized With Traumatic Injuries
Eligible age
18+ yrs
Accepts
All genders
Locations
1 state
Healthy volunteers
No
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About this study
Animal assisted therapy (AAT) with dogs has been shown to be beneficial for a wide range of patients with both acute and chronic illnesses, including spinal cord injuries, heart failure, myocardial infarctions, strokes, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Studies have also demonstrated that even in healthy adults, the presence of dogs is associated with physiologic changes such as increased pain threshold, decreased blood pressure, and decreased heart rate. However, few studies have investigated the role of AAT in the post-operative course in adults. This study will investigate the impact of therapy dog visits on pain and anxiety scores for trauma patients at Boston Medical Center (BMC).
Sponsor: Boston Medical Center
You may qualify if…
- ✓ Patients admitted to the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (TACS) service following a trauma
- ✓ English or Spanish speaking
- ✓ Able to provide informed consent
You may not qualify if…
- ✕ Fear of dogs, allergy to dogs
- ✕ Immunocompromised
- ✕ Contact precautions
- ✕ Delirious, intubated, or otherwise unable to consent
Where it's recruiting
Boston
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06812247 · last updated 2026-06-16