An interventional study of Dog visits/control visits and Control visits/dog visits in Physiological Responses, Behavior and Mood, sponsored by University of Aarhus. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in Denmark. Open to participants aged 65 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-05-08.
Sponsored by University of Aarhus · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
In brief the study aims to investigate how nursing home residents receiving dog visits respond to contact with the dog, by comparing visits with and without a dog present. The investigators will measure the response with non-invasive measures of the immediate physiological response, and objective behavioural measurements to quantity the activity and the actual amount and intensity of contact to the dog.
The residents will receive six 10-minute visits, three visits with a dog and three without a dog, with a week-long break in between the two visit types. The participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the three dog visits or the three visits without a dog first. The visits will be from the same person, and the dog visits will be accompanied with the same dog each time. During dog visits, the dog will be available for touch, and the resident will be encouraged to interact with the dog.
Before each visit the resident is fitted with the equipment for measuring continuously recorded physiological measures and then relaxes for 30 minutes. Immediately before and five and 30 minutes after each visit, the investigators obtain a saliva sample to detect cortisol levels.
The behaviour of the participants will be video recorded during the visits to quantify the frequency and duration of predefined behavioural elements, using ethological methodology. The investigators will quantify the participants' activity during the visits as well as the frequency and duration of tactile contact with the dog, and verbal communication with the dog and the visitor.
In addition, the visitor and the observer present during the visit will subjectively assess the resident's perception of the visit.
University of Aarhus is the lead sponsor of 1,274 studies on the registry; 183 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants receive the three dogs visits first and then, after a break, receive the three control visits
Behavioral: Dog visits/control visits
Participants receive the three control visits first and then, after a break, receive the three dog visits
Behavioral: Control visits/dog visits
See arm description above
See arm description above
Heart rate
The test person wears a device placed on the upper arm
Time frame: During visit no. 1, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate
The test person wears a device placed on the upper arm
Time frame: During visit no. 2, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate
The test person wears a device placed on the upper arm
Time frame: During visit no. 3, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate
The test person wears a device placed on the upper arm
Time frame: During visit no. 4, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate
The test person wears a device placed on the upper arm
Time frame: During visit no. 5, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate
The test person wears a device placed on the upper arm
Time frame: During visit no. 6, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability is calculated from heart rate data
Time frame: During visit no. 1, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability is calculated from heart rate data
Time frame: During visit no. 2, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability is calculated from heart rate data
Time frame: During visit no. 3, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability is calculated from heart rate data
Time frame: During visit no. 4, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability is calculated from heart rate data
Time frame: During visit no. 5, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability is calculated from heart rate data
Time frame: During visit no. 6, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Behaviour during visits
The test persons behaviour is observed
Time frame: During visit no. 1, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Behaviour during visits
The test persons behaviour is observed
Time frame: During visit no. 2, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Behaviour during visits
The test persons behaviour is observed
Time frame: During visit no. 3, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Behaviour during visits
The test persons behaviour is observed
Time frame: During visit no. 4, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Behaviour during visits
The test persons behaviour is observed
Time frame: During visit no. 5, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Behaviour during visits
The test persons behaviour is observed
Time frame: During visit no. 6, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 1, 2 minutes before visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 2, 2 minutes before visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 3, 2 minutes before visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 4, 2 minutes before visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 5, 2 minutes before visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 6, 2 minutes before visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 1, 5 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 2, 5 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 3, 5 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 4, 5 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 5, 5 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 6, 5 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 1, 30 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 2, 30 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 3, 30 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 4, 30 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 5, 30 minutes after visit
Salivary cortisol
Saliva is obtained from the testperson with a swab which held his/her mouth for one minute
Time frame: Visit 6, 30 minutes after visit
The visitor's and observer's perception of how the visit was experienced by the test person.
Minimum value 0 (worst possible visit) to 100 (best possible visit)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 1
The visitor's and observer's perception of how the visit was experienced by the test person.
Minimum value 0 (worst possible visit) to 100 (best possible visit)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 2
The visitor's and observer's perception of how the visit was experienced by the test person.
Minimum value 0 (worst possible visit) to 100 (best possible visit)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 3
The visitor's and observer's perception of how the visit was experienced by the test person.
Minimum value 0 (worst possible visit) to 100 (best possible visit)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 4
The visitor's and observer's perception of how the visit was experienced by the test person.
Minimum value 0 (worst possible visit) to 100 (best possible visit)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 5
The visitor's and observer's perception of how the visit was experienced by the test person.
Minimum value 0 (worst possible visit) to 100 (best possible visit)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 6
Visual analoque scale of the testpersons' evaluation of the visit
Minimum value 0 (worst possible experience) to 100 (best possible experience)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 1
Visual analoque scale of the testpersons' evaluation of the visit
Minimum value 0 (worst possible experience) to 100 (best possible experience)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 2
Visual analoque scale of the testpersons' evaluation of the visit
Minimum value 0 (worst possible experience) to 100 (best possible experience)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 3
Visual analoque scale of the testpersons' evaluation of the visit
Minimum value 0 (worst possible experience) to 100 (best possible experience)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 4
Visual analoque scale of the testpersons' evaluation of the visit
Minimum value 0 (worst possible experience) to 100 (best possible experience)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 5
Visual analoque scale of the testpersons' evaluation of the visit
Minimum value 0 (worst possible experience) to 100 (best possible experience)
Time frame: 5 minutes after visit 6
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Apr 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
University of Aarhus