Protocol Number: 05-CC-0093

Title:

The Effect of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Oncology Patients Being Treated for Pain

Number:

05-CC-0093

Summary:

This study will examine how animal-assisted therapy (AAT) affects aspects of pain. It will explore the possible benefits of the National Institutes of Health's AAT program on distress in cancer patients receiving pain and palliative care at the NIH Clinical Center. A number of studies on the benefits of patients interacting with companion animals have shown a positive effect of both pet ownership and AAT for patients with chronic illness. However, few such experimental studies have been conducted with cancer patients.

Patients 18 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with cancer and have been referred for consult with NIH's pain and palliative care team and recreation therapy may be eligible for this study.

Participants have two study sessions, each lasting about 20 minutes on two different days. In one session, they visit with an animal assistant therapy dog and its handler. In the other session they engage in a conversation that the patient identifies as non-stressful. Patients are asked to fill out four forms before and after each session with questions and statements about their pain, attitude towards pets, symptoms they might be having, and demographic information, such as age, sex, marital status, and so forth. On four separate occasions, 1 teaspoon of blood is drawn and a swab of saliva is collected from the mouth up to an hour after the session.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Completed Study; data analyses ongoing

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria: This study is not currently recruiting new subjects. If you have questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keyword(s):

Cancer Pain

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Recreation Therapy

Recruitment Keyword(s):

Cancer Pain

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Condition(s):

Pain

Cancer

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Interventions:

Behavioral: Animal Assisted Therapy

Supporting Site:

Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center

Contact(s):

This study is not currently recruiting new subjects. If you have questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.

Citation(s):

Allen K, Blascovich J, Mendes WB. Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: the truth about cats and dogs.Psychosom Med. 2002 Sep-Oct;64(5):727-39.

Allen K, Shykoff BE, Izzo JL Jr. Pet ownership, but not ace inhibitor therapy, blunts home blood pressure responses to mental stress.Hypertension. 2001 Oct;38(4):815-20.

Allen KM, Blascovich J, Tomaka J, Kelsey RM. Presence of human friends and pet dogs as moderators of autonomic responses to stress in women.J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991 Oct;61(4):582-9.

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department Clinical Research Informatics, CC.

Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
Clinical Center Home | NIH Home

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 01/30/2009