A Pilot Study to Examine the Impact of a Therapy Dog Intervention on Loneliness and Related Health Outcomes in Vulnerable Populations

A Pilot Study to Examine the Impact of a Therapy Dog Intervention on Loneliness and Related Health Outcomes in Vulnerable Populations

The purpose of this research study is to test whether an animal-assisted interaction (AAI) intervention is better than conversation with another person or treatment as usual for improving mood, anxiety, loneliness, quality of life, and indicators of health care services such as number of hospitalizations, length of hospital stay, and cost of services. Participants will be patients admitted for an inpatient stay at Virginia Commonwealth University Health who meet the study entry requirements.

Participants will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to receive one of the following interventions:

1. Animal-assisted interaction (a dog-handler team will visit them in their hospital room)
2. Conversational interaction with just participants and the handler
3. Treatment as usual (the regular services patients are currently receiving in the hospital)

Participation in this study will last six months. This includes the three days on which participants will receive one of the interventions described above, plus completing some questionnaires online or by phone one month and six months after the baseline visit. These questionnaires will ask questions about pet ownership, relationship with pets participants have had, loneliness, depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life, significant life events in the past year, and social supports. Approximately 180 individuals will participate in this study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Projected to be admitted to the hospital for the upcoming four days
• Speak English
• Able to provide consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Fear of, or allergy to, dogs
• Documented contact precautions
• Cognitive impairment that prevents consent or completion of measures.