Title: Urinary Oxytocin Levels in Children Receiving Animal-Assisted Therapy

NCT06414876 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UOLinCRAAT_Uppsala University
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

There has been growing interest in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in recent decades due to increasing reports indicating its health benefits for adult patients. These benefits are partly attributed to changes, usually increased levels of the neuropeptide oxytocin. Aim: To investigate changes in oxytocin levels in hospitalized children during animal-assisted therapy sessions with a certified hospital dog. Method: Urine samples were collected from 35 hospitalized children (3-17 years) before and after each participant had a session with the hospital dog. Oxytocin levels were analysed with an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Creatinine levels were measured to determine the subject's fluid intake and then divided by the hormonal concentration (uOT pg/mg).

Conditions

Animal Assisted Therapy

Keywords

Children; Hospital; Oxytocin

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in oxytocin levels

  Concentration of oxytocin (pg/mg) in urine samples measured by ELISA.

  Day of enrollment

Study Arms (2)

The children played with the hospital dog and then by themselves.

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Hospital dog

The children played by themselves and then with the hospital dog.

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Hospital dog

Interventions

Hospital dog BEHAVIORAL

The hospital dog always has a well educated dog instructor beside.

Also known as: The children played with the hospital dog in about 40 minutes.

The children played by themselves and then with the hospital dog.; The children played with the hospital dog and then by themselves.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 3 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Hospitalized children

You may not qualify if:

• Multiresistent bacteria
• Immunosuppressed
• Large burns

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uppsala University: lead

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2024
• First Posted: May 16, 2024
• Study Start: February 2, 2016
• Primary Completion: May 24, 2017
• Study Completion: May 24, 2017
• Last Updated: May 16, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share