Socially Assistive Robots to Enhance Magnification Device Use for Reading

NCT ID: NCT04190134

Last Updated: 2024-07-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE1
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-04-22
• Study Completion Date: 2025-02-28

Brief Summary

The aims of this exploratory research project are to customize, deploy and evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a socially assistive robot as a novel approach to motivate and encourage optimal, long-term use of new magnification devices for reading in individuals with vision loss. The goals are to promote patient acceptance, adherence and skills reinforcement to achieve proficiency in the use of the magnifier, in order to attempt to reduce visual disability while performing important daily activities, such as reading tasks. This is a high priority given the increasing prevalence of low vision, paucity of low vision rehabilitation providers, and barriers related to access to care, such as transportation and geography, all of which motivate the development of this complementary approach for the provision of additional support at home by the socially assistive robot.

Conditions

Low Vision

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Immediate Robot

One month after study entry, participants will receive the robot at home for two months, followed by a three month observation period without the robot.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Socially Assistive Robot for Low Vision Rehabilitation

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A socially assistive robot will be customized to engage in dialog and conversations to motivate and encourage optimal use of new magnification devices for reading at home by individuals with vision loss.

Delayed/Waitlist Robot

Three months after study entry, participants will receive the robot at home for three months.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Socially Assistive Robot for Low Vision Rehabilitation

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A socially assistive robot will be customized to engage in dialog and conversations to motivate and encourage optimal use of new magnification devices for reading at home by individuals with vision loss.

Interventions

Socially Assistive Robot for Low Vision Rehabilitation

A socially assistive robot will be customized to engage in dialog and conversations to motivate and encourage optimal use of new magnification devices for reading at home by individuals with vision loss.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Individuals with any level of vision loss due to any ocular disease,
• age 18 and older,
• received a magnification device(s) (i.e., hand-held optical magnifiers, portable electronic video magnifiers, some stand magnifiers and CCTVs) from the UCLA Vision Rehabilitation Center.

Exclusion Criteria

• schedules not permitting participation in planned study sessions or visits (including planning to move or take extended vacation during study period),
• inability to understand study procedures or communicate responses to visual stimuli in a consistent manner (cognitive impairment as per TICS),
• substance abuse,
• significant hearing loss (unable to hear communication by phone or from robot),
• significant medical condition likely to limit participation or lifespan,
• their magnifier device has features that would not work in conjunction with the beacon sensors: (1) hands-free and do not have a place where the patient's hand is holding the device during use (therefore, they would not register a significant change in temperature), and/or (2) no surface area of at least 1"x1" to which the beacon sensor could be attached without interfering with the device.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Southern California

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of California, Los Angeles

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ava K. Bittner, OD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Ava K Bittner, OD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UCLA Stein Eye Institute; Vision Rehabilitation Center

Maja J Mataric, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

USC Interaction Lab; Viterbi School of Engineering

Locations

UCLA Stein Eye Institute

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Ava K Bittner, OD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

abittner@mednet.ucla.edu

310-206-4649

Andrea Obligacion

Role: CONTACT

AObligacion@mednet.ucla.edu

310-206-9566

Facility Contacts

Ava K Bittner, OD, PhD

Role: primary

310-206-4649

Other Identifiers

19-001429

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id