BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are testing a software program designed to teach children to interact safely with dogs.
Each year as many as 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs. Nearly one in five about 885,000 people suffer injuries severe enough to require medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among children, the rate of dog-bite related injuries is highest for those ages 5-9.
"Dogs are wonderful companions that bring great happiness to millions of children and their families," says UAB psychologist David Schwebel, Ph.D., director of the UAB Youth Safety Lab. Schwebel is conducting the study along with UAB graduate student Aaron Davis, the study's principal investigator.
"But we must remember that dogs are animals, and that they can have the potential to bite young children who don't realize it is dangerous to reach for dogs in the face or to try to play with dogs that are sleeping or eating," Schwebel says.
Children in the study and their parents will be given The Blue Dog software program created by The Blue Dog Trust in the United Kingdom. The program presents a series of games that instruct children to avoid behaviors that can aggravate a dog such as pulling its tail or ears or making direct eye contact.
UAB researchers then will observe the children's behaviors with a live dog to evaluate the program's effectiveness by comparing pre- and post-test scores.
One hundred children ages 3-6 from the Birmingham area are needed for the trial study at UAB. All children in the study must have at least one dog in the home. All of the dogs used in the UAB study are pet-therapy dogs registered with The Delta Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health through service and therapy animals.
"If this computer game successfully teaches young children to interact safely with their pet do
'/>"/>
| Contact: Gail Short gshort@uab.edu 205-934-8931 University of Alabama at Birmingham Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Earlier bites by uninfected mosquitoes boost West Nile deaths in lab mice
2. Nervy research: Researchers take initial look at ion channels in a model system
3. Stem cell research: From molecular physiology to therapeutic applications
4. UC Davis bench-to-bedside research: Promising treatment in clinical trials
5. Lombardi research: Monoclonal antibodies primed to become potent immune weapons against cancer
6. Harmonizing biobank research: An achievable world-wide goal
7. Toothsome research: Deducing the diet of a prehistoric hominid
8. K-State research: Freshwater pollution costs US at least $4.3 billion a year
9. Geisinger research: Antimalarial drug prevents diabetes in arthritis patients
10. Robotics research: Enhancing the lives of people with disabilities
11. Advances in the field of schizophrenia research: New genetic factors identified
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |