None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
To evaluate the benefits of the companion robot Paro for use at an residential care facility. By randomly assigning residents to a control group or an intervention group where participant use Paro over 12 weeks the benefits of the robot on well being can be assessed over this period. It is expected that the robot will improve quality of life, reduce depression and loneliness over this time in comparison to residents who have no contact with the robot
Interventions
Paro is a robotic fluffy seal designed to act like an animal. Paro was designed to be used in a similar way to live animals during animal therapy in elder care facilities. The intervention group has two 1 hour group sessions run by a caregiver with Paro each week for 12 weeks where each resident has the chance to interact with Paro and discuss the robot with others in the group. Caregivers have also been trained to use Paro with those in the group outside of activity sessions if a resident is
Paro is a robotic fluffy seal designed to act like an animal. Paro was designed to be used in a similar way to live animals during animal therapy in elder care facilities. The intervention group has two 1 hour group sessions run by a caregiver with Paro each week for 12 weeks where each resident has the chance to interact with Paro and discuss the robot with others in the group. Caregivers have also been trained to use Paro with those in the group outside of activity sessions if a resident is upset
Sponsors
University of Auckland
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
0 to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Residents living in the resthome or the hospital at Selwyn Heights Residential Care Facility in Auckland, New Zealand and identified by the management care staff as suitable participants
Exclusion criteria
None
Outcome results
None listed