AnxietyyesNCT02411721
The Effects of Dog Intervention on Anxiety Levels in Children Undergoing an MRI Examination
A study testing Animal Assisted Intervention in people with Anxiety, run by Rambam Health Care Campus.
Trial summary
Studies have shown that about two thirds of the children undergoing MRI suffer from feelings of anxiety ranging from mild apprehension to severe distress. Especially in young children, the unfamiliar surroundings, new faces, strange equipment and the noise generated during the scan, can cause feelings of stress and… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 7 to 15 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- Animal Assisted Intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 52 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- May 2015to May 2016
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 7 to 15 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- immunocompetent children
- aged 7 to 15 years
- undergoing MRI procedures
Who cannot join
- allergy or fear of dogs
- previous Animal Assisted Invention (AAI) experience
- immunodeficiency
- asthma
- airway allergies
- open wounds
- infectious diseases that can be transferred by direct and indirect contact
- known aggressiveness
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet.
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Dog Intervention on Anxiety Levels in Children Undergoing an MRI Examination ; Open Label, Randomized Controlled Trail
Studies have shown that about two thirds of the children undergoing MRI suffer from feelings of anxiety ranging from mild apprehension to severe distress. Especially in young children, the unfamiliar surroundings, new faces, strange equipment and the noise generated during the scan, can cause feelings of stress and anxiety so severe that the test either cannot be started or cannot be performed properly due to the child's movements. For older children and adults claustrophobia is the main reason of poor image quality because of motion artifacts and/or early termination of the scan. Several studies have demonstrated the potential calming effects of companion animals on children but, to date, no formal studies on the relationship between dog intervention and children's anxiety before MRI procedures have been reported. The current study is designed to determine if dog intervention lessens children's anxiety prior to MRI
Read the detailed description
MRI is an imaging method common worldwide, both for adults and children. Studies show, however, that about two thirds of the children undergoing MRI suffer from feelings of anxiety ranging from mild apprehension to severe distress. For very young children, the unfamiliar surroundings, new faces, strange equipment and particularly the noise generated during the scan, can all cause feelings of stress and anxiety so severe that the test either cannot even begin or cannot be performed properly because the child is incapable of lying still. For older children and adults claustrophobia is the main reason of poor image quality because of motion artifacts or early termination of the scan.
Anxiety is a reaction to an unfamiliar situation and its strength is far greater than the objective danger. Anxiety is characterized by subjective feelings of stress and worry that activate the autonomic nervous system.
In recent years, more and more use is made of certain techniques to prepare patients for a wide range of treatments, including methods of preparing patients for the MRI procedure, especially children. The purpose of preparation is to familiarize patients with the equipment and the stages of the imaging procedure. It also enables the technician to answer questions the patient may have and thereby avoid false assumptions about the procedure.
Intervention with animals, dogs in particular, is developing around the world and is being used in a variety of activities in rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, special education schools, hospitals and more.
In 1987 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognized the field of animal therapy and during the last two decades many reports have been published on the positive effects when patients interact with animals. These reports include: performance improvements, improved physiological measurements, reduction of stress and anxiety, reduced feelings of loneliness and depression, and a more speedy recovery.The animal is seen as a "friend" in the strange world of the clinic. Having a companion dog present distracts the patient from the surroundings and procedures.
In a pilot study, conducted in 2001 at the New Jersey hospital, an intervention program with a dog was introduced for reducing anxiety in adults before an MRI. This study has demonstrated that animal-assisted intervention indeed decreases the anxiety levels of patients in a pre MRI setting.
Several studies have demonstrated the potential calming effects of companion animals on children but, to date, no formal studies on the relationship between dog intervention and a child's anxiety before an MRI procedure have been reported. The current study is designed to determine if dog intervention lessens children's anxiety prior to MRI.
- Conditions
- Anxiety
- Being tested
- Animal Assisted Intervention
- Keywords
- Anxiety, Dog Intervention, MRI, Children
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Animal Assisted InterventionBehavioural
- Initial conversation between dog handler and child. The purpose hereof is to let the child express any fear he experiences towards the examination. The presence of the dog allows the child to project his emotions on the dog and to speak more freely about his anxiety.
- The dog handler informs the child on the various stages of the procedure. For this a booklet has been prepared in which a dog is the patient undergoing an MRI-scan. The child can identify with the dog in the story, and at the same time feel comforted by the dog present.
- Procession of emotions. The child will play freely with the dog. The purpose hereof is to create a soothing atmosphere. In stroking the soft, friendly animal the child may feel more relaxed and therefore less anxious towards the examination.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Animal assisted intervention | Experimental | The Effects of Dog Intervention on Anxiety Levels in Children. The experimental group will receive standard training on the imaging process by the MRI technician plus intervention activity with a dog Receives: Behavioral: Animal Assisted Intervention |
| control group | No intervention | The control group will receive the standard training on the imaging process by the MRI technician. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Anxiety level
To determine if among children in the experimental group the anxiety level is reduced in comparison to that of children in the control group. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) will be used to measure the levels of anxiety of the children after the intervention / waiting period
Measured: immediately after end of intervention
Secondary outcomes (4)
Anxiety profile assessment
To determine if, according to the assessment of the medical staff, children in the experimental group are more relaxed during the scan than children in the control group. The anxiety profile assessment will be filled out by the MRI technician who accompanies the child during the exam. The technician will be requested to rate on a scale from 1-10 the level of anxiety, the level of stress, and the state of mind of the child
Measured: up to 10 minutes after MRI scan
Evaluate children experience
To determine if one week after having undergone the scan children in the experimental group find the experience less stressful than children in the control group. A telephone questionnaire with the children will be conducted a week after the procedure in order to evaluate their experience
Measured: 1 week after the intervention
Quality of the MRI scan
To determine whether the quality of the MRI scan proves better in children in the experimental group than in children in the control group. The quality of the simulation test will be determined by the MRI physician. The criteria that will be used for determining the quality of the test are: motion artifacts and the need for repetition of the protocol due to the child's movements
Measured: up to two weeks after MRI scan
Pulse measurements
To determine if pulse rates of children in the experimental group decrease compared to those of children in the control group. Pulse measurements will be taken before and after dog intervention / waiting period.
Measured: Immidiately before and immediately after the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Apr 2015 (estimated)
- Study startMay 2015
- Primary completionMay 2016 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2016 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 52 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Rambam Health Care Campus
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02411721
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 0530-14-RMB CTIL
- Acronym
- yes
- Status last verified
- Apr 2015
- First submitted
- 26 Mar 2015
- Last updated
- 8 Apr 2015
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Apr 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Dog Intervention on Anxiety Levels in Children Undergoing an MRI Examination ; Open Label, Randomized Controlled Trail
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02411721
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- yes / 0530-14-RMB CTIL
- Conditions
- Anxiety
- Keywords
- Anxiety, Dog Intervention, MRI, Children
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 52 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Rambam Health Care CampusUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- May 2015
- Primary completion
- May 2016 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2016 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Apr 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Studies have shown that about two thirds of the children undergoing MRI suffer from feelings of anxiety ranging from mild apprehension to severe distress. Especially in young children, the unfamiliar surroundings, new faces, strange equipment and the noise generated during the scan, can cause feelings of stress and anxiety so severe that the test either cannot be started or cannot be performed properly due to the child's movements. For older children and adults claustrophobia is the main reason of poor image quality because of motion artifacts and/or early termination of the scan. Several studies have demonstrated the potential calming effects of companion animals on children but, to date, no formal studies on the relationship between dog intervention and children's anxiety before MRI procedures have been reported. The current study is designed to determine if dog intervention lessens children's anxiety prior to MRI
Detailed description
MRI is an imaging method common worldwide, both for adults and children. Studies show, however, that about two thirds of the children undergoing MRI suffer from feelings of anxiety ranging from mild apprehension to severe distress. For very young children, the unfamiliar surroundings, new faces, strange equipment and particularly the noise generated during the scan, can all cause feelings of stress and anxiety so severe that the test either cannot even begin or cannot be performed properly because the child is incapable of lying still. For older children and adults claustrophobia is the main reason of poor image quality because of motion artifacts or early termination of the scan.
Anxiety is a reaction to an unfamiliar situation and its strength is far greater than the objective danger. Anxiety is characterized by subjective feelings of stress and worry that activate the autonomic nervous system.
In recent years, more and more use is made of certain techniques to prepare patients for a wide range of treatments, including methods of preparing patients for the MRI procedure, especially children. The purpose of preparation is to familiarize patients with the equipment and the stages of the imaging procedure. It also enables the technician to answer questions the patient may have and thereby avoid false assumptions about the procedure.
Intervention with animals, dogs in particular, is developing around the world and is being used in a variety of activities in rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, special education schools, hospitals and more.
In 1987 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognized the field of animal therapy and during the last two decades many reports have been published on the positive effects when patients interact with animals. These reports include: performance improvements, improved physiological measurements, reduction of stress and anxiety, reduced feelings of loneliness and depression, and a more speedy recovery.The animal is seen as a "friend" in the strange world of the clinic. Having a companion dog present distracts the patient from the surroundings and procedures.
In a pilot study, conducted in 2001 at the New Jersey hospital, an intervention program with a dog was introduced for reducing anxiety in adults before an MRI. This study has demonstrated that animal-assisted intervention indeed decreases the anxiety levels of patients in a pre MRI setting.
Several studies have demonstrated the potential calming effects of companion animals on children but, to date, no formal studies on the relationship between dog intervention and a child's anxiety before an MRI procedure have been reported. The current study is designed to determine if dog intervention lessens children's anxiety prior to MRI.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Animal assisted intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Animal Assisted InterventionThe Effects of Dog Intervention on Anxiety Levels in Children. The experimental group will receive standard training on the imaging process by the MRI technician plus intervention activity with a dog |
| control group | No intervention | –The control group will receive the standard training on the imaging process by the MRI technician. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 7 to 15 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- immunocompetent children
- aged 7 to 15 years
- undergoing MRI procedures
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- allergy or fear of dogs
- previous Animal Assisted Invention (AAI) experience
- immunodeficiency
- asthma
- airway allergies
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Assisted Intervention1. Initial conversation between dog handler and child. The purpose hereof is to let the child express any fear he experiences towards the examination. The presence of the dog allows the child to project his emotions on the dog and to speak more freely about his anxiety. 2. The dog handler informs the child on the various stages of the procedure. For this a booklet has been prepared in which a dog is the patient undergoing an MRI-scan. The child can identify with the dog in the story, and at the same time feel comforted by the dog present. 3. Procession of emotions. The child will play freely with the dog. The purpose hereof is to create a soothing atmosphere. In stroking the soft, friendly animal the child may feel more relaxed and therefore less anxious towards the examination. | Behavioural | Animal assisted intervention |
Primary outcome
Anxiety level
Time frame: immediately after end of intervention
To determine if among children in the experimental group the anxiety level is reduced in comparison to that of children in the control group. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) will be used to measure the levels of anxiety of the children after the intervention / waiting period
4 secondary outcomes
Anxiety profile assessment
Time frame: up to 10 minutes after MRI scan
Evaluate children experience
Time frame: 1 week after the intervention
Quality of the MRI scan
Time frame: up to two weeks after MRI scan
Pulse measurements
Time frame: Immidiately before and immediately after the intervention
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Apr 2015.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Animal Assisted Intervention in people with Anxiety, run by Rambam Health Care Campus.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Apr 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Anat Ilivitzki, MD (972-4-7773682, a_ilivitzki@rambam.health.gov.il), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Anxiety level (time frame: immediately after end of intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Apr 2015.