NCT02668679

Brief Summary

Background: Performance of endoscopy in children requires more patience, experience, and expertise than in adults. The anxiety of the children is related to parent's separation, loss of self-control, unknown surroundings and strange people that are taking care of them, and frequently unpleasant or even painful procedures. Painful and frightening procedures in children have been shown to result in short-term physiologic changes and long-term behavioral changes. The response to unpleasant stimuli with stress and fear may be exaggerated in children and experienced as pain. Most infants and children and many teenagers need deep sedation or light general anesthesia to complete a successful and safe procedure. Induction of general anesthesia is a stressful procedure itself. Strategies to reduce preanesthesia anxiety include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. However, this evidence is based mainly on self reports rather than objective measurements. Therefore, objective and non-invasive measurements to be utilized in the current study, should provide an assessment tools regardless the children's age. Multiple studies, beginning in the 1970's, have shown that humor has many positive effects on physical and mental health and well-being. Previous investigations have reported that humor has beneficial effects on the immune system, stress related to potentially fatal illnesses, pain tolerance, and mental functions. Dream doctors (DDs) are professional medical clowns or stage artists, who received training specifically to understand medical patient's need and to give the patient adjuvant therapy during hospital admissions or ambulatory treatment.The Israel dream doctors project, integrates professional medical clowning into the medical services provided at Israeli hospitals.Studies already proved that presence of medical clowns significantly reduces the level of anxiety during induction of anesthesia in children. Hypothesis of the study: 1) DDs lessen the level of anxiety and attention impairment in children undergoing gastroscopies. 2) DDs improve the satisfaction of children and their parents during gastroscopies. The aim of this study is: 1) To explore the influence of DDs on the satisfaction of children and their parents undergoing gastroscopy, utilizing questioners. 2) To explore the effects of DDs on anxiety and attention of children and their parents, undergoing gastroscopies by means of GSR, startle response and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) tests, as well as , and measuring anxiety-related biologic indices.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
99

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2016

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 10, 2016

Completed
19 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 29, 2016

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 30, 2016

Completed
2.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 18, 2018

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 18, 2018

Completed
Last Updated

October 3, 2018

Status Verified

October 1, 2018

Enrollment Period

2.3 years

First QC Date

January 10, 2016

Last Update Submit

October 2, 2018

Conditions

Keywords

Dream DoctorsMedical ClownPediatricsSedationEndoscopy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

  • Level of anxiety in children undergoing gastroscopies measured by biological indices (blood pressure)

    The following physical indices will be measured: blood pressure (mmHG)

    Up to 12 hours during the day of gastroscopy for each patient.

  • Level of anxiety in children undergoing gastroscopies measured by biological indices (pulse)

    The following physical indices will be measured: pulse per minute

    Up to 12 hours during the day of gastroscopy for each patient.

  • Level of anxiety in children undergoing gastroscopies measured by biological indices (saturation)

    The following physical indices will be measured: saturation meaning level of oxygen in blood with pulse oximeter in units

    Up to 12 hours during the day of gastroscopy for each patient.

  • Level of anxiety in children undergoing gastroscopies measured by biological indices (body temperature)

    The following physical indices will be measured: body temperature in celsius degrees

    Up to 12 hours during the day of gastroscopy for each patient.

  • Level of anxiety in children undergoing gastroscopies measured by biological indices (sedation drug level)

    The following physical indices will be measured:The amount of drugs given for deep sedation will be evaluated, in milligrams per kilogram body weight.

    Up to 12 hours during the day of gastroscopy for each patient.

  • level of anxiety in children undergoing gastroscopies and their parents measured by PPI

    The investigators would use a monitoring device that would assess startle reflex reaction measured by blinking of the eye. Monitoring would be done with electrodes of EMG device that would be located on orbicularis oculi muscle and will monitor response. Startle reflex response (anxiety)- Assessed by millivolts registered by electromyography (EMG) electrodes.

    Up to 12 hours during the day of gastroscopy for each patient.

  • level of anxiety in children undergoing gastroscopies and their parents measured by GSR

    The investigators would use a monitoring device that would assess physiological reactivity by measurement of skin conductance (galvanic skin response).

    Up to 12 hours during the day of gastroscopy for each patient.

Study Arms (2)

Children and their parents with the presence of Dream Doctors

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The DD will use various methods for entertaining the child and alleviate stress . The parents and the children will be given anxiety and satisfaction questionnaires. The children and parents will perform Pre-Pulse inhibition (PPI) test and GSR. In addition, stress hormones will be assessed (cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) and the following physical indices will be measured: blood pressure, pulse, saturation and body temperature. The amount of drugs given for deep sedation will be evaluated.

Procedure: Sedation of children during gastroscopy with and without the presence of dream doctorDevice: evaluation of stress with PPI and GSRBiological: blood specimens for stress hormonesOther: Physiological indices for evaluation of stress

Children and their parents without the presence of DD

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

No DD during the gastroscopy. The parents and the children will be given anxiety and satisfaction questionnaires. The children and parents will perform Pre-Pulse inhibition (PPI) test and GSR. In addition, stress hormones will be assessed (cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) and the following physical indices will be measured: blood pressure, pulse, saturation and body temperature. The amount of drugs given for deep sedation will be evaluated.

Procedure: Sedation of children during gastroscopy with and without the presence of dream doctorDevice: evaluation of stress with PPI and GSRBiological: blood specimens for stress hormonesOther: Physiological indices for evaluation of stress

Interventions

children and their parents with and without the presence of DD upon arrival to the Gastroenterology institute and throughout the induction of sedation, gastroscopy and recovery.

Also known as: dream doctor
Children and their parents with the presence of Dream DoctorsChildren and their parents without the presence of DD

evaluation of stress in children undergoing gastroscopy with sedation with and without the presence of a dream doctor by measurement of PPI and GSR

Also known as: PPI GSR
Children and their parents with the presence of Dream DoctorsChildren and their parents without the presence of DD

evaluation of stress in children undergoing gastroscopy with sedation with and without the presence of a dream doctor by measurement of stress hormones.

Also known as: stress hormones
Children and their parents with the presence of Dream DoctorsChildren and their parents without the presence of DD

evaluation of stress in children undergoing gastroscopy with sedation with and without the presence of a dream doctor by measurement of blood pressure, pulse, saturation and body temperature.

Also known as: physiological indices
Children and their parents with the presence of Dream DoctorsChildren and their parents without the presence of DD

Eligibility Criteria

Age1 Year - 18 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Children aged 1-18 years undergoing gastroscopy.
  • Informed consent of the parents

You may not qualify if:

  • Developmental delay or neurologic disease
  • Children who underwent endoscopy in the past
  • Parents that don't agree to participate in the study
  • ASA≥3
  • Children or parents hearing problem.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Emek Medical Center

Afula, 1834111, Israel

Location

Related Publications (5)

  • Tolia V, Peters JM, Gilger MA. Sedation for pediatric endoscopic procedures. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2000 May;30(5):477-85. doi: 10.1097/00005176-200005000-00003. No abstract available.

  • Soker Z. Play and Learning: What really children wan't to learn through play? 'Megamot' (Trends) for research. Behav. Sci.1993; 34:497-520.

    RESULT
  • Puder C. The healthful effects of laughter. CYC-Net 2003; 55:32-42.

    RESULT
  • Golan G, Tighe P, Dobija N, Perel A, Keidan I. Clowns for the prevention of preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized controlled trial. Paediatr Anaesth. 2009 Mar;19(3):262-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2008.02903.x. Epub 2008 Dec 23.

  • Vagnoli L, Caprilli S, Messeri A. Parental presence, clowns or sedative premedication to treat preoperative anxiety in children: what could be the most promising option? Paediatr Anaesth. 2010 Oct;20(10):937-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2010.03403.x.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Gastrointestinal Diseases

Interventions

Galvanic Skin Response

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Digestive System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychological TechniquesInvestigative TechniquesBehavioral Disciplines and ActivitiesElectrophysiological PhenomenaPhysiological PhenomenaSkin Physiological PhenomenaIntegumentary System Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

  • Sarit Peleg, MD

    Emek Medical Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Head of Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 10, 2016

First Posted

January 29, 2016

Study Start

March 30, 2016

Primary Completion

July 18, 2018

Study Completion

July 18, 2018

Last Updated

October 3, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-10

Locations