JOPHON NCPD (Sept/Oct 2025) Impact of Animal-Assisted Interactions on Quality of Life in Children with Relapsed/Refractory Cancer and Their Parents: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study-JOPHON NCPD (Sept/Oct 2025) Impact of Animal Assisted Interactions on Quality of Life in Children with Relapsed/Refractory Cancer and Their Parents: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

JOPHON NCPD (Sept/Oct 2025) Impact of Animal Assisted Interactions on Quality of Life in Children with Relapsed/Refractory Cancer and Their Parents: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

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This randomized controlled pilot study examined whether weekly animal-assisted interactions (AAIs) with a certified therapy dog and handler could improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for children ages 3–17 with relapsed/refractory cancer and their caregivers. Conducted at a single U.S. pediatric cancer center (2019–2021, largely during COVID-19), 30 child–caregiver dyads were randomized 1:1 to receive either 12 weeks of brief (~15 minute) AAI sessions during clinic/hospital visits plus usual care, or usual care alone. Usual care included services such as child life/play therapy, social work, physical therapy, pastoral care, and psychology as needed.<br /><br />HRQoL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 3.0 Cancer Module (child self-report and mother proxy-report). Of the 30 randomized dyads, 21 (9 usual care, 12 AAI) completed baseline and 12-week assessments and were included in analyses. Using generalized linear models controlling for baseline scores, no HRQoL changes differed significantly between groups over time (p > .05). However, the largest (though still non-significant) effects suggested possible benefits in the subdomains of communication and procedural anxiety, with notable discrepancies between child self-report and mother proxy-report.<br /><br />The authors discuss that discordance between child and parent ratings is common and raise concerns that the PedsQL Cancer Module may not fully capture issues most relevant to advanced/relapsed disease (e.g., existential distress, meaning, and items less applicable after relapse). Limitations included small sample size, limited diversity, and inclusion of mothers only. The study concludes that AAI is feasible and shows preliminary promise for improving HRQoL in this population, warranting larger trials and potentially more appropriate measurement tools, ideally supplemented with qualitative assessments.

Keywords

animal-assisted intervention

therapy dog

pediatric oncology

relapsed/refractory cancer

health-related quality of life

PedsQL Cancer Module

randomized controlled pilot study

caregiver proxy report

procedural anxiety

communication subdomain