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Summary
This study looks at whether walking with a therapy dog helps adult and pediatric trauma patients move more during their hospital stay. Early movement after an injury or surgery can prevent problems such as blood clots, pressure sores, and muscle loss, but pain and anxiety often make it hard for patients to get out of bed. Each patient in this study takes part in two walking sessions-one with a certified therapy dog and one without a dog. The order is randomized, so some patients walk with the dog first and others walk without the dog first. Before and after each walk, patients fill out short surveys about their pain, anxiety, and motivation to move. The research team measures how far and how long each patient walks in both sessions. The goal of this project is to see if therapy dog visits can safely and effectively improve mobility, reduce pain and anxiety, and make walking more enjoyable for trauma patients. Findings from this study may help hospitals design better rehabilitation programs that use animal-assisted therapy to support physical and emotional recovery.
Official title: Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Trauma Patient's Willingness to Participate in Ambulation
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
4 Years - 99 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
128
Start Date
2025-07-23
Completion Date
2026-12
Last Updated
2026-07-24
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Therapy Dog
Patients assigned to AAI in the morning received standard mobilization in the afternoon, and vice versa. In the AAI intervention, patients interacted with the therapy dog and handler
Standard mobilization
Patients assigned to AAI in the morning received standard mobilization in the afternoon, and vice versa. Standard mobilization no therapy dog is present
Locations (1)
University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital
Lexington, Kentucky, United States