Feasibility Study of Visits by Patients Own Pets to Adults in Intensive Care Units

What this Trial Is About

Many patients who spend time in intensive care units ICU experience significant emotional challenges, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Improving the patient experience in the ICU is a priority, with efforts focused on recreating a familiar environment to support emotional well-being. Animal-assisted interventions, especially involving dogs, have been used in other patient groups to help reduce anxiety and stress, but the use of patients own pets in ICU settings is less common and faces challenges such as animal behavior and infection risks. This study is evaluating the feasibility of allowing conscious adult ICU patients to be visited by their own pets, such as dogs or cats, for 20 minutes. It targets patients who have recovered from acute phases of illness or are undergoing rehabilitation or end-of-life care and are stable without hemodynamic or respiratory failure. The intervention involves a single 20-minute visit by the patients pet, with careful attention to safety and infection control. Participants will be assessed at various times, including day 1 and day 15, with measurements such as the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule PANAS and patient satisfaction at 3 months. Researchers will monitor the microbiological impact on both patients and the ICU environment to ensure safety. The primary outcome is the feasibility of pet visits by day 15, and the study will also evaluate paramedical care and patient satisfaction to understand the interventions effects during and after the visit period.

Can a Patient in Intensive Care be Visited by His or Her Pet?