A Dog-assisted Therapy to Reduce Burnout Among Professionals Working in a School for Special Education

NCT05100108 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: AAI_Teachers
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of an 8-week program consisting of dog-assisted therapy on the work engagement, burnout, pain, and quality of life among professionals working in a School for Special Education. A total of 30 participants will be involved in the program, which will be comprised of eight 50-min sessions conducted once a week. The hypothesis of the researchers in this study is that this program will achieve a reduction in burnout levels in workers, as well as an improvement in engagement and quality of life.

Conditions

Occupational Groups; Work Related Stress

Keywords

dog-assisted; Burnout; Quality of life; Work Engagement; Human-animal interaction; Animal-assisted

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Changes in Burnout levels assessed using the Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire

  The Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire (BCSQ-36) evaluates by means of 36 items the burnout of the participants. Each of the items can be scored on a Likert scale from 1 to 7; 1 being totally disagree and 7 being totally agree. In addition, the questionnaire is divided into 3 subtypes with their respective dimensions: Frantic subtype (Involvement, Ambition and Overload), Unchallenged subtype (Indifference, Boredom and Lack of Development), Worn-out subtype (Abandonment, Lack of Control and Lack of Recognition). The Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire (BCSQ-12) also assesses burnout and is calculated with the items of the BCSQ-36.

  At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

• Changes in Burnout levels assessed using the Burnout Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)

  The Burnout Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is a tool for the assessment of burnout, as an antithesis of the UWES questionnaire focused on engagement. This questionnaire consists of 22 items that give rise to 3 dimensions: Emotional exhaustion (decrease and loss of energy or emotional resources); Depersonalization or Cynicism (negative attitudes and feelings towards the people for whom the work is intended) and Lack of personal accomplishment or professional efficacy (tendency of professionals to evaluate themselves negatively).

  At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

• Changes in Burnout levels assessed using one Item for Burnout assessment

  One Item for Burnout assessment where under the statement of "In general, according to your definition of burnout, how would you rate your level of burnout?" participants have 5 response options from "I enjoy my work. I have no symptoms of burnout" to "I feel completely burned out and often wonder if I can keep going. I am at a point where I may need some changes or should seek some kind of help."

  At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Changes in work engagement

  At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

• Changes in Health-related quality of life

  At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

• Changes in Health Status

  At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

• Changes in pain

  At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

• Changes in blood pressure

  At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

Study Arms (2)

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

They will be on a waiting list. They will be assessed before and after the 8 week program but will not take part in it.

Experimental group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will take part in the 8 sessions of dog-assisted therapy. They will be assessed before and after the 8 week program.

Behavioral: Dog-assisted therapy

Interventions

Dog-assisted therapy BEHAVIORAL

The program will involve 8 sessions, conducted once a week for 8 weeks. Each session will include three parts: 1) a welcome part aimed to get in touch with the dog, 2) a main part, where participants will be taught basic notions about dog training and then try to train the dogs. In this part, the patients will perform different activities and exercises with the dog. 3) A closing part to relaxation and say goodbye to the dogs.

Also known as: animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted intervention

Experimental group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• be aged \>18 years
• be workers in a School for Special Education
• work in direct contact with children (teachers, physiotherapists, etc.)

You may not qualify if:

• People with dog-allergy
• People with dog phobia
• People with a history of impulsive animal aggression

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Daniel Collado-Mateo: lead
• Asociación Dame La Pata: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

King Juan Carlos University

Móstoles, Madrid, 28933, Spain

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Occupational Stress; Burnout, Psychological; Human-Animal Interaction

Interventions

Animal Assisted Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Occupational Diseases; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Officials

• Daniel Collado-Mateo, PhD

  Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Daniel Collado-Mateo, PhD

CONTACT

+34 914 88 75 18; daniel.collado@urjc.es

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants will be aware of the group they belong. Assessors and investigators will not be aware of the group participants belong.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Randomized controlled trial with two groups: a) the experimental group and b) a control group (waiting list)

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 16, 2021
• First Posted: October 29, 2021
• Study Start: October 26, 2021
• Primary Completion: December 23, 2021
• Study Completion: December 23, 2021
• Last Updated: October 29, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)