Experience With a Socially Assistive Robot for Home Care and Its Acceptance by People With Dementia, Caregivers and Dementia Trainers. A Mixed-method Intervention Study
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Dementia
- Sponsor
- Medical University of Graz
- Enrollment
- 12
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Technology acceptance (all participants): "Technology Usage Inventory"
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 7 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Background:
Dementia rates are increasing worldwide and consequently burden global healthcare resources to a serious degree. However, there is a declining number of caregivers to provide care. It is for this reason that many new technologies, such as socially assistive robots, have been developed because of their potential to support caregivers in promoting the independence of people with dementia. Most of the (socially assistive) robots have so far been tested for people without dementia in mainly laboratory or institutional settings, like nursing homes. Consequently, there is a lack of knowledge about the possible uses of robots from the perspective of those affected by dementia in real-life/care situations (e.g. at home). Testing in a laboratory setting cannot capture the complexity and high variability of everyday situations occurring during the care of persons with dementia.
Methods
The design is a mixed method intervention study of a refined socially assistive humanoid robot. In total, three people with dementia, three relatives, three dementia trainers and three professional caregivers were included in the study. Quantitative data of technology acceptance were collected using the "Technology Usage Inventory". Qualitative data (main focus: experiences with the robot and handling the robot) were collected by means of observation and qualitative interviews. Movement data of people with dementia were collected by means of the eye camera of the robot.
This study helps to further refine and test a socially assistive robot for people with dementia living at home.
Investigators
Sandra Schüssler
Deputy Head of the Institute of Nursing Science
Medical University of Graz
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Persons with dementia:
- •living at home
- •all types of dementia
- •light and moderate dementia (MMSE 10 and above)
- •light dementia: living alone or with a relative at home (if alone: the relative should live in the neighborhood and be in daily contact with the person with dementia.)
- •moderate dementia: living with a relative at home
- •receive professional and/or non professional care or no care
- •speak and understand German
- •have no physical, auditory or visual restrictions, as this would make the application of the interventions impossible
- •do not take any dementia-specific medication or have been taking dementia-specific medication for at least 3 months; condition stable and no change expected during the study period
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Technology acceptance (all participants): "Technology Usage Inventory"
Time Frame: 1 week
The questionnaire "Technology Usage Inventory" measures technology acceptance. It captures technology-specific and psychological factors contributing to the use of a technological device. The questionnaire has 8 dimensions (curiosity:4 items, anxiety:4 items, interest:4 items, usability/user-friendliness: 3 items, immersion:4 items, utility:4 items, skepticism:4 items and accessibility:3 items) with 30 items (7-point Likert scale). For every dimension 1- 21 or 28 points can be obtained. For all dimensions, higher levels on the respective dimension indicate a higher level of expression in the respective construct.
Experience with the robot (all participants)
Time Frame: 1 week
Qualitative interviews with people with dementia. 1 qualitative focus group interview for all other participants.
Secondary Outcomes
- Handling the robot (people with dementia)(After 3 days of intervention)
- Change of mobility (people with dementia)(1 week)