Impact of Facility Dog Intervention on Pediatric Patients

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if medical dog intervention facilitated by a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) impacts pediatric patient coping, fear, and anxiety during inpatient admissions. The main questions it aims to answer are: What impact does facility dog support via a CCLS have on patient fear, coping, and anxiety? What effect does facility dog support via a CCLS have on patient heart rate? Researchers will compare medical dog intervention facilitated by a CCLS, CCLS intervention, and a coloring activity to see if medical dog interventions positively impact coping, fear, and anxiety. Participants will: Receive a visit from a medical dog and their CCLS handler, a CCLS, or a Child Life Activity coordinator. Engage in a mindfulness or coloring activity. Answer surveys regarding anxiety, coping, and fear. Have their heart rate measured before, during, and after their assigned intervention.

NCT Number	NCT07221006
Lead Sponsor	Children's Hospital Colorado
Conditions	Inpatients, Pediatric
Enrollment	126 participants
Start Date	2025-12-01
Primary Completion	2026-12-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-12-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-11-03