Use of a Therapeutic, Socially Assistive Pet Robot (PARO) in Improving Mood and Stimulating Social Interaction and Communication for People With Dementia: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

BackgroundSocially assistive robotics is a growing area for geriatric research.ObjectiveThis single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the use of PARO, a therapeutic, socially assistive pet robot, in improving mood, and stimulating social interaction and communication for people with dementia in the community.MethodsFor the study, 40 community-dwelling older Chinese adults (≥60 years) with mild to moderate dementia will be recruited and randomly assigned to the PARO therapy group or the psychosocial activities control group. Both treatments consist of six, 30-minute weekly sessions, which will be conducted in a geriatric day hospital. Subjects in both groups will be assessed by a trained research assistant at baseline (pre-), during, and post-treatment. Mood (assessed with a simplified face scale), social interaction, and communication (ie, facial expressions and reactions towards each treatment, assessed with an observation table) will be the primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures will include assessments on cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination) and depressive symptoms (Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia), as well as caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Inventory). Subjective impression towards each treatment and qualitative comments from the caregivers, facilitator, and therapists will also be obtained.ResultsRecruitment to the pilot study began in 2014 and the last subject is expected to complete their post-treatment assessment in 2015.ConclusionsThis will be the first RCT using PARO to improve mood, and stimulate social interaction and communication in the care of older people with dementia, as well as provide an evidence basis for the use of PARO in dementia care in Hong Kong.Trial RegistrationThe Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12614000037606; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12614000037606 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6Xi7uXdu9).

Nurses’ needs for care robots in integrated nursing care services

“…“Communication” was the least‐expected role for robots and the topic was of some concern, as revealed by the open‐ended question. Although some robots that react to different stimuli and recognize emotions have been used therapeutically in hospitals, including the humanoid robot Pepper and the therapeutic pet robot Paro (Yu et al., ; Ishiguro & Majima, ), improvements in accurate interpretation of complex emotions are necessary in guardian‐free environments. Care robots may not facilitate communication between nurses and patients and indeed may also not aid communication among medical staff.…”

The Utilization of Robotic Pets in Dementia Care

“…For example, as many as 83% of individuals with dementia suffer with depression [2]; and as many as 77% suffer from anxiety [3]. These problems may ultimately result inlong-term hospitalization, increased medication use, and decreased quality of life for caregivers and patients.…”

From Lonely to Resilient through Humanoid Robots: Building a New Framework of Resilience

“…Randomized controlled clinical trials with older adults showed that the company of a resident dog or the PARO robot reduced loneliness as compared to a control group who had neither [39]. Randomized controlled clinical trials in Hong Kong obtained better mood, more social interaction, and more communication in older adults with dementia after interaction with the PARO pet robot [40].…”

“…Introverts, for instance, may have fewer and less intense social connections but may not feel lonely. They connect in a less personal manner than extraverts do [4,31] (p. 40).…”