title: Suitability of healthcare robots for a dementia unit and suggested improvements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the suitability of a new eldercare robot (Guide) for people with dementia and their caregivers compared with one that has been successfully used before (Paro), and to generate suggestions for improved robot enhanced dementia care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study. A researcher demonstrated both robots in a random order to each staff member alone, or to each resident together with his/her relative(s). The researcher encouraged the participants to interact with each robot and asked staff and relatives a series of open ended questions about each robot.
  
  
  METHODS
  A secure dementia residential facility in Auckland, New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten people with dementia and 11 of their relatives, and five staff members.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each robot interaction was video-taped and coded for the number of times the resident looked at, smiled, touched, and talked to and about each robot, as well as relative interactions with the resident. Qualitative analysis was used to code the open ended questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Residents smiled, touched and talked to Paro significantly more than Guide. Paro was found to be more acceptable to family members, staff, and residents, although many acknowledged that Guide had the potential to be useful if adapted for this population in terms of ergonomics and simplification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare robots in dementia settings have to be simple and easy to use as well as stimulating and entertaining. This research highlights how eldercare robots may be adapted to have the best effects in dementia settings. It is concluded that Paro's sounds could be modified to be more acceptable to this population. The ergonomic design of Guide could be reviewed and the software application could be simplified and targeted to people with dementia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Ngaire
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kerse
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broadbent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012371:Robotics; D012944:Social Support; D014741:Video Recording