Clinical Trials in Colorado

Companion Dog Walking for ICU Survivor Health

NCT05820308

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a randomized controlled trial comparing a pet dog walking intervention to an attention control education intervention in adult intensive care unit survivors. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * What is the feasibility of a pet dog-walking intervention compared to an attention control education intervention on depression, anxiety, cortisol, and quality of life for adult ICU survivors. * What is the acceptability of a pet dog-walking intervention compared to an attention control education intervention on depression, anxiety, cortisol, and quality of life for adult ICU survivors. The secondary question\[s\] it aims to answer are: \- What are the differences in depression, anxiety, serum cortisol, and quality of life between and within a companion dog walking intervention compared to an attention control education intervention for ICU survivors? Participants in the intervention group will be asked to: * Participate in dog walking with their pet dog at least three times per week, for at least 10 minutes each walk, for 8-weeks. * Wear an activity monitor and record their dog walks in a diary. * Complete surveys to measure depression, anxiety, and quality of life at the start of the study, after week 4, and after week 8. * Have blood drawn to measure cortisol levels at the start of the study, after week 4, and after week 8. Participants in the control group will be asked to: * Read educational materials about their pet dog's health once every week (education materials are provided by the researchers). * Wear an activity monitor and record when they read their education materials in a diary. * Complete surveys to measure depression, anxiety, and quality of life at the start of the study, after week 4, and after week 8. * Have blood drawn to measure cortisol levels at the start of the study, after week 4, and after week 8. Participants will be assigned to an intervention group or a control group to see if there are differences in depression, anxiety, serum cortisol, and quality of life.