Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
Published on: February 25, 2016
Effect of animal assisted interactions on activity and stress response in children in acute care settings
Mary Lou Jennings1, Douglas A Granger2, Crystal I Bryce3
1Animal Assisted Therapy Program, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, 1-602-933-2136, USA.
Objective:
Determine the effects of animal assisted interactions (AAI) on activity and stress response in pediatric acute care settings.
Design:
Randomized treatment control design.
Setting:
Inpatient pediatric acute care units (PICU, CVICU and Hematology/Oncology).
Patients:
Eighty pediatric inpatients (49% male) age 2-19 years.
Intervention:
The AAI experimental group patients interacted with therapy dog teams for 5-10 min and the comparison group patients continued their current activity without an AAI visit.
Measurement And Results:
Salivary cortisol, activity level, and mood were assessed before and after AAI. AAI was associated with a decrease in cortisol levels and increases in mood and activity.
Conclusion:
AAI benefits children in pediatric acute care units.
