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Dogs Offering Guidance: Therapeutic Observation for Reducing Examination Anxiety (DOGTOR).

10 settembre 2026 aggiornato da: La Trobe University

Dogs Offering Guidance: Therapeutic Observation for Reducing Examination Anxiety (DOGTOR). A Pilot Feasibility Study

Physiotherapists work closely with patients to assess, diagnose and treat a variety of conditions. Thus, it is essential that education should assess these key competencies through both written examinations (to measure cognitive understanding) and practical examinations (to measure clinical skills). Practical examinations have been found to require more preparation and have been reported to be more anxiety-inducing than other forms of examination. One possible strategy to assist with reducing examination stress for students is canine interaction. In the inpatient hospital setting, animal-assisted therapy has found to be a safe and useful option for managing stress. Within the university setting, canine interaction has been shown to improve mood, affect, well-being and reduce stress. However, most of the previous work in this area did not investigate canine-intervention during exams. This study will utilise a randomised-controlled trial design to measure the impact of canine interaction immediately prior to practical examinations on perceived and physiological stress and determine if canine interaction impacts examination scores.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Reclutamento

Condizioni

Examination Phobia

Intervento / Trattamento

Comportamentale: Canine Group

Descrizione dettagliata

Physiotherapy education should prepare graduates to become physiotherapists who work closely with patients to effectively assess, diagnose and treat a variety of conditions. Thus, it is essential that physiotherapy education should also include evaluation that assesses these key skills and competencies. This could be through both written examinations (to measure cognitive skills) and practical exams, such as Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), where students are required to apply their practical knowledge in a standardised, simulated environment. Practical exams usually include a student, a mock patient, a limited time in which a particular skill should be demonstrated and an assessor that provides a score of the student's performance. They are designed to determine whether a student has achieved a threshold of competence that will ideally ensure effective and safe practice in a real-world environment. Most students and assessors endorse practical examinations as a valuable form of feedback.

Despite their potential benefits, like other forms of examination, practical exams are a source of anxiety and stress for many students. Key sources of such exam stress include fear of failing (particularly in front of peers or assessors and "losing face"), not being able to retrieve knowledge under pressure, running out of time and inability to interpret the exam question. Practical exams require more preparation and have been reported to be more anxiety-inducing than other forms of examination, such as written exams. Examination stress is associated low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and poor sleep quality. While some exam-related stress can heighten exam performance, too much or too little stress can impact examination validity by impairing performance of actual ability. Therefore, in the interest of both student and assessor, it is imperative to reduce examination stress where possible so that student performance is better reflection of their actual skills and or competence.

One possible strategy to assist with reducing examination stress for students is canine interaction. In the inpatient hospital setting, animal-assisted therapy has found to be a safe and useful option for managing stress and has demonstrated greater stress reduction than other stress relieving methods such as reading, biofeedback and mindfulness. Within a university setting, canine interaction has been shown to improve mood, affect, well-being, reduce anxiety and stress. However, most of these studies did not investigate canine-intervention during an examination period, and of those which did, canine-intervention was performed some time before (from 60 minutes to two weeks), which allows time for additional stressors to influence findings. To date, there are no randomised studies that have been conducted specifically in physiotherapy students immediately before an OSCE. Therefore, the aims of this study are to (1) measure the impact of canine interaction immediately prior to a practical examination on perceived and physiological stress and (2) to determine if canine interaction impacts examination scores. Understanding the impact of canine interaction in this setting may provide a novel and relatively low-cost strategy to minimise examination stress immediately before an OSCE and boost grades.

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

Fase

Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

Nome: Mary Duffy, MA
Numero di telefono: 6103094791204
Email: mary.duffy@latrobe.edu.au

Backup dei contatti dello studio

Nome: Leanne Clinch
Numero di telefono: 61 3 9479 1443
Email: leanne.clinch@latrobe.edu.au

Luoghi di studio

Australia
- Victoria
  - Bundoora, Victoria, Australia, 3086
    - Reclutamento
    - La Trobe University
    - Contatto:
      
      Mary Duffy, MA
      
      Numero di telefono: 61 3 94791204
      
      Email: mary.duffy@latrobe.edu.au
    - Sub-investigatore:
      
      Arushka D'Souza, PhD
    - Sub-investigatore:
      
      Matthew King, PhD
    - Sub-investigatore:
      
      Andrew Hahne, PhD
    - Sub-investigatore:
      
      Marlena Calo, B Physio
    - Sub-investigatore:
      
      Andrea Bruder, PhD
    - Sub-investigatore:
      
      Madeline Hannington, PhD

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

Bambino
Adulto
Adulto più anziano

Accetta volontari sani

Sì

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

Students enrolled in subject PTY5015 (Preparation for Clinical Practice) in the La Trobe University Physiotherapy Graduate Entry Masters program only.

Exclusion Criteria:

Anyone not enrolled in PTY5015

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

Scopo principale: Altro
Assegnazione: Randomizzato
Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
Mascheramento: Separare

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm Un gruppo o sottogruppo di partecipanti a uno studio clinico che riceve un intervento/trattamento specifico o nessun intervento, secondo il protocollo dello studio.	Intervento / Trattamento Intervento / Trattamento Un processo o un'azione che è al centro di uno studio clinico. Gli interventi includono farmaci, dispositivi medici, procedure, vaccini e altri prodotti sperimentali o già disponibili. Gli interventi possono anche includere approcci non invasivi, come l'educazione o la modifica della dieta e dell'esercizio fisico.
Sperimentale: Canine Group examination. During this time, they will be in a quiet room with the dog and a dog-handler. Participants will be instructed that they can freely interact with the dog (for example, observe, pat, hold, talk with the dog, play with the dog toys) within the room. The dog handler will observe and only interact if required to assist with participant or dog safety. The dog is a former Seeing Eye Dog in training who has been introduced to the students and will be re-familiarised with them prior to the trial by attending classes during this term.	Comportamentale: Canine Group In a quiet room with a dog and dog handler, students will be able to freely interact with the dog prior to commencing their examinations. Both groups, intervention or control, participants will have their blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) measured by a member of the research team and complete a short questionnaire (details below). The intervention/control will occur 10 minutes prior to the participant's allocated examination slot. Following their examination, participants will have their BP and HR measured by a member of the research team and be asked to rate their stress on a visual analogue scale again. Participants who received the intervention will be asked to report their interaction types with the dog and invited to participate in a focus group to discuss their experience in the trial.
Nessun intervento: Control group Students placed in the control group will have a quiet room to sit in for 10 minutes immediately prior to their examination.

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm

Intervento / Trattamento

Sperimentale: Canine Group

examination. During this time, they will be in a quiet room with the dog and a dog-handler. Participants will be instructed that they can freely interact with the dog (for example, observe, pat, hold, talk with the dog, play with the dog toys) within the room. The dog handler will observe and only interact if required to assist with participant or dog safety. The dog is a former Seeing Eye Dog in training who has been introduced to the students and will be re-familiarised with them prior to the trial by attending classes during this term.

Comportamentale: Canine Group

In a quiet room with a dog and dog handler, students will be able to freely interact with the dog prior to commencing their examinations. Both groups, intervention or control, participants will have their blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) measured by a member of the research team and complete a short questionnaire (details below). The intervention/control will occur 10 minutes prior to the participant's allocated examination slot. Following their examination, participants will have their BP and HR measured by a member of the research team and be asked to rate their stress on a visual analogue scale again. Participants who received the intervention will be asked to report their interaction types with the dog and invited to participate in a focus group to discuss their experience in the trial.

Nessun intervento: Control group

Students placed in the control group will have a quiet room to sit in for 10 minutes immediately prior to their examination.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato	Misura Descrizione	Lasso di tempo
Blood Pressure measurement Lasso di tempo: 30 minutes prior to practical exam, immediately prior to the practical examination and five minutes after the examination	All participants will enter a holding room prior to their examination. Within 30 minutes of the intervention or control, participants will have their blood pressure (BP) measured by a member of the research team . The intervention/control will occur 10 minutes prior to the participant's allocated examination slot. Following the intervention/control, the participant will have their BP measured by a member of the research team and be asked to rate their stress on a visual analogue scale. They will then complete their examination which will last 30 minutes. Following their examination, participants will have their BP measure again by a member of the research team.	30 minutes prior to practical exam, immediately prior to the practical examination and five minutes after the examination
Completion of Stress Visual Analog Scale (SVAS) Lasso di tempo: 30 minutes prior to the practical examination; immediately prior to commencing the examination, 5 minutes after the examination	Immediate perceived stress will be measured using the SVAS at Timepoints 1, 2 and 3. This scale ranges from 0 to 9, where 0 is "no stress" and 9 is "most severe imaginable". Visual Analog scales are widely used self-reported measures with acceptable validity and reliability in health outcomes such as pain, anxiety, feelings and mood. This scale has widely been used to measure the effect of canine-intervention in other studies. It will be self-administered via a RED Cap survey	30 minutes prior to the practical examination; immediately prior to commencing the examination, 5 minutes after the examination
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) Lasso di tempo: Immediately prior to the examination	The PSS-10 is a 10-item scale where participants self-appraise their life stress over the past one month, with options ranging from "never" (zero) to "very often" (four). It has been found to be valid and reliable in students and will be collected prior to the examination. It will be self-administered via a REDCap survey.	Immediately prior to the examination
Heart Rate Lasso di tempo: Time Frame: 30 minutes prior to practical exam, immediately prior to the practical examination and five minutes after the examination	All participants will enter a holding room prior to their examination. Within 30 minutes of the intervention or control, participants will have their heart rate (HR) measured by a member of the research team . The intervention/control will occur 10 minutes prior to the participant's allocated examination slot. Following the intervention/control, the participant will have their HR measured by a member of the research team and be asked to rate their stress on a visual analogue scale. They will then complete their examination which will last 30 minutes. Following their examination, participants will have their HR measured by a member of the research team.	Time Frame: 30 minutes prior to practical exam, immediately prior to the practical examination and five minutes after the examination

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

La Trobe University

Investigatori

Investigatore principale: Emily C Bell, PhD, Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University

Pubblicazioni e link utili

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Pubblicazioni generali

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Effettivo)

1 novembre 2025

Completamento primario (Stimato)

1 novembre 2027

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

1 novembre 2027

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

11 maggio 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

10 settembre 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

14 settembre 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

14 settembre 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

10 settembre 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 agosto 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

HEC25361

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

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INDECISO

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

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Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .

Dogs Offering Guidance: Therapeutic Observation for Reducing Examination Anxiety (DOGTOR).