Behavioural and Physiological Responses to Dog Visits in Nursing Homes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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Behavioural and Physiological Responses to Dog Visits in Nursing Homes

Conditions
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Physiological Responses, Behavior, Mood

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Dog visits/control visits
* Behavioral: Control visits/dog visits


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age of 65 years or more Able to sit during visits (either in a chair or in a bed) Exclusion Criteria: Known allergy to dogs Known fear of dogs

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants from 2 nursing homes (25+25) are all receive three visit with a dog and three without a dog. It is randomised whter participents receive the dog visits first or last.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Dog visits first<br>Participants receive the three dogs visits first and then, after a break, receive the three control visits | Behavioral: Dog visits/control visits<br>* See arm description above<br>|
| Other: Control visits first<br>Participants receive the three control visits first and then, after a break, receive the three dog visits | Behavioral: Control visits/dog visits<br>* See arm description above<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Heart rate | The test person wears a device placed on the upper arm | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | During visit no. 6, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | 
| Behaviour during visits | The test persons behaviour is observed | During visit no. 1, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | 
| Behaviour during visits | The test persons behaviour is observed | During visit no. 2, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | 
| Behaviour during visits | The test persons behaviour is observed | During visit no. 3, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | 
| Behaviour during visits | The test persons behaviour is observed | During visit no. 4, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | 
| Behaviour during visits | The test persons behaviour is observed | During visit no. 5, from 30 minutes before the visit to 30 minutes after | 
| Behaviour during visits | The test persons behaviour is observed | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Visit 6, 30 minutes after visit | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 5 minutes after visit 6 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Human-animal contact, Non-invasive measure