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.
Adults (18 years of age and older)
trauma patients
emergency general surgery patients
pediatric patients (4 - 17 years old)
weight bearing limitation
spine instability
oxygen requirement >2LPM, GCS <15,
high fall risk (as evidenced by door label)
Single group
Therapy Dog
Other interventionPatients 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
Other interventionPatients assigned to AAI in the morning received standard mobilization in the afternoon, and vice versa. Standard mobilization no therapy dog is present
Change in Defense & Veterans Pain Rating Scale
Before and after each intervention, patients completed surveys assessing pain using the (Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale, DVPRS). Scores on the scale ranged from 0: no pain to 10: worst pain of patient's life.
Change in General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Scale
Before and after each intervention, patients completed surveys assessing anxiety using modified General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Scaled from not at all to a lot, resulting in a total score that can range from not at all, a litte, some, a lot, with higher values reflecting more severe anxiety symptoms.
General status
Before and after each intervention, patients completed surveys assessing general status. Used likert scale ranging from very poor to excellent.
Willingness to mobilize
Before and after each intervention, patients completed surveys assessing willingness to mobilize. Used likert scale ranging from no motivation at all to very much.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Andrew Bernard
Lead sponsor
University of Kentucky
Sponsor institution
