Occupational GroupsNCT05100108
A Dog-assisted Therapy to Reduce Burnout Among Professionals Working in a School for Special Education
A study testing Dog-assisted therapy in people with Occupational Groups and Work Related Stress, run by Daniel Collado-Mateo at 1 site in Spain.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Occupational Groups, Work Related Stress
- What is being tested?
- Dog-assisted therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 26 Oct 2021to 23 Dec 2021
- 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- be aged >18 years
- be workers in a School for Special Education
- work in direct contact with children (teachers, physiotherapists, etc.)
Who cannot join
- People with dog-allergy
- People with dog phobia
- People with a history of impulsive animal aggression
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Spain1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
King Juan Carlos University
Móstoles, Madrid, 28933
Daniel Collado-Mateo, PhD, daniel.collado@urjc.es
Beatriz Rivera Martín, PhD
About this study
Official title: Effects of a Dog-assisted Therapy on Quality of Life, Work Engagement and Burnout Among Professionals Working in a School for Special Education
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.
Read the detailed description
Animal-assisted interventions have shown numerous benefits in different populations including children with cerebral palsy or autism spectrum disorder, people with chronic pain, older adults, or people in prison. Recently, different initiatives have been carried out focused on improving the work environment, especially among professionals in clinical settings and obtaining benefits in mood, as well as a reduction in the levels of stress and burnout of employees. In addition, it has also been observed that these animals in the workplace can produce an improvement in health, productivity or job satisfaction.
The presence of stress or anxiety among professionals working in Special Education Schools has been previously reported and could increase burnout and reduce the engagement and health-related quality of life of these workers.
Therefore, the current 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 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
- Being tested
- Dog-assisted therapy
- Keywords
- dog-assisted, Burnout, Quality of life, Work Engagement, Human-animal interaction, Animal-assisted
- Medical subject headings
- Occupational Stress, Burnout, Psychological, Human-Animal Interaction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dog-assisted therapyBehavioural
Also called animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted intervention
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Receives: Behavioral: Dog-assisted therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: 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).
Measured: 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."
Measured: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Changes in work engagement
Assessed through the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), which is a scale widely used for the evaluation of engagement in the workplace . It is composed of 17 items distributed in three factors: 1) vigor (6 items, e.g., "In my work I feel full of energy"), 2) dedication (6 items, e.g., "My work has meaning") and 3) absorption (5 items, e.g., "When I am working I forget everything that happens around me"). It consists of a seven-item Likert scale (from 0 = "never" to 6 = "always").
Measured: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Changes in Health-related quality of life
It will be assessed using the EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire (EuroQoL 5 dimensions 5 levels): it is a questionnaire consisting of 5 dimensions with 5 levels of response, the first dimension refers to mobility, the second to personal care, the third to daily activities, the fourth to pain/discomfort, and the fifth to anxiety and depression.
Measured: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Changes in Health Status
It will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale of the EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire (EuroQoL 5 dimensions 5 levels). It is represented as a thermometer ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 is the worst state of health that can be imagined and 100 is the best state of health imaginable.
Measured: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Changes in pain
Assessed through a visual analog pain scale, which is represented as a thermometer ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 is the absence of pain and 100 the highest pain level imaginable
Measured: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Changes in blood pressure
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure using the Omron MIT Elite Plus Oscillometer
Measured: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Oct 2021
- Study start26 Oct 2021 (estimated)
- Primary completion23 Dec 2021 (estimated)
- Study completion23 Dec 2021 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Occupational GroupsStudies 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
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trial with two groups: a) the experimental group and b) a control group (waiting list)
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Daniel Collado-Mateo
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Asociación Dame La Pata
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Daniel Collado-Mateo, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
- Investigators
- Daniel Collado-Mateo, PhD, Principal investigator, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05100108
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AAI_Teachers
- Status last verified
- Oct 2021
- First submitted
- 16 Oct 2021
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2021
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of a Dog-assisted Therapy on Quality of Life, Work Engagement and Burnout Among Professionals Working in a School for Special Education
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05100108
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AAI_Teachers
- Conditions
- Occupational Groups, Work Related Stress
- Keywords
- dog-assisted, Burnout, Quality of life, Work Engagement, Human-animal interaction, Animal-assisted
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Daniel Collado-MateoUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Asociación Dame La Pata
- Study start
- 26 Oct 2021 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 23 Dec 2021 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 23 Dec 2021 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Oct 2021 (actual)
- 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.
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.
Detailed description
Animal-assisted interventions have shown numerous benefits in different populations including children with cerebral palsy or autism spectrum disorder, people with chronic pain, older adults, or people in prison. Recently, different initiatives have been carried out focused on improving the work environment, especially among professionals in clinical settings and obtaining benefits in mood, as well as a reduction in the levels of stress and burnout of employees. In addition, it has also been observed that these animals in the workplace can produce an improvement in health, productivity or job satisfaction.
The presence of stress or anxiety among professionals working in Special Education Schools has been previously reported and could increase burnout and reduce the engagement and health-related quality of life of these workers.
Therefore, the current 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 is that this program will achieve a reduction in burnout levels in workers, as well as an improvement in engagement and quality of life.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trial with two groups: a) the experimental group and b) a control group (waiting list)
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Behavioral: Dog-assisted therapyParticipants 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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- be aged >18 years
- be workers in a School for Special Education
- work in direct contact with children (teachers, physiotherapists, etc.)
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- People with dog-allergy
- People with dog phobia
- People with a history of impulsive animal aggression
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dog-assisted therapyAlso: animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted interventionThe 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. | Behavioural | Experimental group |
Primary outcome
Changes in Burnout levels assessed using the Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
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.
Changes in Burnout levels assessed using the Burnout Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
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).
Changes in Burnout levels assessed using one Item for Burnout assessment
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
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."
5 secondary outcomes
Changes in work engagement
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Changes in Health-related quality of life
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Changes in Health Status
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Changes in pain
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Changes in blood pressure
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Oct 2021.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Daniel Collado-Mateo, PhD principal investigator
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dog-assisted therapy in people with Occupational Groups and Work Related Stress, run by Daniel Collado-Mateo at 1 site in Spain.
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 3 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 29 Oct 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
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 Daniel Collado-Mateo, PhD (+34 914 88 75 18, daniel.collado@urjc.es), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Changes in Burnout levels assessed using the Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire (time frame: At baseline and immediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 29 Oct 2021.