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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06713928

Effectiveness of Dog-Assisted Therapy on Compliance and Home Oral Hygiene Activities in Disabled Patients

Recent scientific studies have shown how interaction with an animal can alleviate particular conditions of stress and conflict, thus representing a solid support for minor patients with social behavior problems or with physical or mental disabilities. In this co-therapy, a fundamental role is played by the relationship that is established between the human being and the animal, a very particular relationship capable of bringing about positive changes, in both members, but especially in the man who, benefiting from this push for change, can improve his own situation, whatever it is, and follow with greater interest and involvement the actual therapy activities proposed by the team that is following him.

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Key information

Conditions

Disabilities Dog Therapy Oral Hygiene, Oral Health

Age range

5 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza

Torino, 10126, Italy

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients had to be between 5 and 16 years old;
  • Patients with disability;
  • Non-collaborating or with limited collaboration (Frankl Scale 1 or 2);
  • Patients with a Plaque Control Record (PCR) of 40% or more;
  • Patients with partial autonomy in home oral hygiene procedures.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with fear of dogs;
  • Patients with dog hair allergy;
  • Patients with infectious disease;
  • Tetraplegic and visually impaired subjects.

Treatment and study plan

Oral hygiene with dog therapy

Other

The DAT session is divided into two phases: a pre-sitting phase in which the patient could interact with the dog, touching, caressing and playing with him, under the supervision of the dog-trainer. This phase lasted about 15 minutes. The second phase was a during-sitting phase in which the dog was in the chair, next to the patient, during the entire oral hygiene procedure, under the supervision of the dog-trainer.

Primary outcomes

  1. Plaque Control Record (PCR)

    Time frame: 1 month

    PCR values the presence of dental plaque on the teeth

Secondary outcomes

  1. Emotional record

    Time frame: 1 month

    the patient's perception was recorded using a graphic card that represents the moods of the moment of oral hygiene session

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Turin, Italy

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 3, 2024
Registry last updated
Feb 20, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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