Examining the Effectiveness of EAL

NCT05579717 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 14547
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This quasi-experiment will evaluate the effectiveness of Equine Assisted Learning for reducing symptoms associated with trauma exposure among public safety personnel (e.g., fire fighters, police, paramedics, etc.).

Conditions

Trauma

Keywords

EAL; PTSD; posttraumatic stress disorder; public safety personnel; first responder; Equine Assisted Learning; horse therapy; trauma

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• PTSD symptomatology

  Changes in performance on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (structured interview) at pre, post, and follow-up.

  20 weeks

• PTSD symptomatology

  Changes in performance on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 at pre, post, and follow-up. Scores can range between 0 and 80 with higher scores denoting higher PTSD symptomatology.

  20 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (18)

• Mental health symptomatology

  20 weeks

• Depression, anxiety, and stress symptomatology

  20 weeks

• Substance involvement

  20 weeks

• Health complaints

  20 weeks

• Sleep quality

  20 weeks

Other Outcomes (3)

• Heart rate variability

  20 weeks

• Sleep quality

  20 weeks

• Experience in EAL

  8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Equine Assisted Learning group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive 16 sessions of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), facilitated by a trained clinician at Cartier Farms.

Behavioral: Equine Assisted Learning

Waitlist control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the waitlist control group will not receive EAL for the duration of the study.

Interventions

Equine Assisted Learning BEHAVIORAL

EAL is an intervention in which mental health clinicians and equine specialists work together with clients to address a learning goal via unmounted interaction with a horse. It is 16 sessions in length, at a rate of two sessions per week.

Also known as: EAL

Equine Assisted Learning group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• English-speaking adults;
• Currently or previously employed as public safety personnel (e.g., police officer, fire fighter, paramedic, healthcare worker, emergency dispatcher, correctional officer);
• Reside in Saskatchewan;
• Meet diagnostic criteria for having experienced a Criterion A traumatic event;
• Able to provide written informed consent;
• Have access to a smart phone, tablet, or computer with a working microphone and camera; and
• Have access to consistent and reliable internet.

You may not qualify if:

• Meet/met current/past diagnostic criteria for several psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurological conditions;
• History of severe head trauma with loss of consciousness or history of traumatic brain injury;
• Have previously completed at least half of the EAL curriculum at Cartier Farms.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Saskatchewan: collaborator
• University of Regina: collaborator
• McMaster University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Cartier Farms

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, S6V5R2, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Wounds and Injuries; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Margaret McKinnon, PhD, CPsych

  McMaster University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: Participants will be assigned to an intervention group or a waitlist control group based on the time they complete their initial baseline interview. Individuals in the waitlist control group will be offered the opportunity to participate in EAL once they have completed the study.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 28, 2022
• First Posted: October 14, 2022
• Study Start: March 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: August 31, 2025
• Study Completion: August 31, 2025
• Last Updated: December 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)