Exploring Use of Companion Robot Pets for Older Adults in Care Homes
NCT ID: NCT04168463
Last Updated: 2021-02-23
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
83 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2020-01-01
2021-01-01
Brief Summary
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Robot pets such as Paro have shown potential in improving wellbeing (including reduced agitation, loneliness, medication use, anxiety and depression), however previous work conducted by the investigators suggests Paro is less acceptable to older adults than alternative devices; the Joy for All cat and dog. Paro is also much more expensive (£5000 compared to £100) limiting its use within the real world, and limiting the number of people able to benefit.
The investigators therefore wish to explore the potential of these more affordable robots in achieving wellbeing benefits.
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Detailed Description
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The study aims to:
* See if affordable robot pets lead to improved wellbeing and are robust and engaging over 4-8 months in care homes and nursing homes.
* Identify under what circumstances, for which care home residents, and with what impact the robot pets are used.
The wellbeing outcomes to be explored include; neuropsychiatric symptoms, challenging behaviour, communication and loneliness.
Additional outcomes include monitoring of medication use, 1:1 care applications, and maintenance of a usage chart.
Qualitative data will also be collected through reflective diaries maintained by care staff, and interviews following completion of the study.
The study will include residents of eight care homes, which will be stratified into two clusters based on size and dementia service. The two clusters will then be randomised to immediate start (and receive robot animals immediately), or delayed start (and receive robot animals after four months). This provides a period of control. The sample size is primarily informed by feasibility, and the number of residents in each home likely to participate. In total there are approximately 190 residents of which the investigators estimate 100 across the 8 homes will give consent and interact with the robots. If 70% residents (across both arms and over the whole study) benefit from interacting with the robots the 95% confidence interval is 61-79%. This is of sufficient precision.
Measures will be completed at baseline, 4 months and 8 months. Interviews will be conducted at 8 months, and analysed alongside reflective diary entries.
This study should provide understanding of the potential for these more affordable robot pets in improving wellbeing for older people, and insight into their use and implementation.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
NONE
Study Groups
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Immediate Intervention
This cluster of four homes will receive robot animals immediately at commencement of the eight month trial.
Two Joy for All robots (one cat and one dog)
Intervention will include the opportunity to interact with the Joy for All robot animals.
Delayed Intervention
This cluster of four homes will receive robot animals four months after commencement of the 8 month trial. The four months without robots will serve as a control period.
Two Joy for All robots (one cat and one dog)
Intervention will include the opportunity to interact with the Joy for All robot animals.
Interventions
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Two Joy for All robots (one cat and one dog)
Intervention will include the opportunity to interact with the Joy for All robot animals.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
65 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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University of Plymouth
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Hannah Bradwell
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigators
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Hannah L Bradwell, MSc
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
PhD Student, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Plymouth
Locations
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University of Plymouth
Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
Countries
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References
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Moniz-Cook E, Woods R, Gardiner E, Silver M, Agar S. The Challenging Behaviour Scale (CBS): development of a scale for staff caring for older people in residential and nursing homes. Br J Clin Psychol. 2001 Sep;40(3):309-22. doi: 10.1348/014466501163715.
Strom BS, Engedal K, Saltyte Benth J, Grov EK. Psychometric evaluation of the Holden Communication Scale (HCS) for persons with dementia. BMJ Open. 2016 Dec 13;6(12):e013447. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013447.
Bradwell H, Edwards KJ, Winnington R, Thill S, Allgar V, Jones RB. Implementing Affordable Socially Assistive Pet Robots in Care Homes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stratified Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial and Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Aging. 2022 Aug 24;5(3):e38864. doi: 10.2196/38864.
Related Links
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Campaign to End Loneliness (n.d.)
Holden Communication Scale
Other Identifiers
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268571
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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