The Impact of an Animal-assisted Activity on the Stress Level of Hospitalized Children

The intervention is an animal-assisted activity consisting of a visit to Villa Samson (a place on the campus of the hospital specifically intended for patients to meet pets), where the child will work with a therapy dog for 1 hour. Under supervision, the animal is stroked and combed by the child, they play games together, the child feeds the animal, etc.

The control intervention reenacts a normal stay in the hospital, so the child spends one hour in the hospital room where the child can play, watch tv, etc.