title: Exploring the effect of companion robots on emotional expression in older adults with dementia: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: This pilot study aimed to compare the effect of companion robots (PARO) to participation in an interactive reading group on emotions in people living with moderate to severe dementia in a residential care setting. A randomized crossover design, with PARO and reading control groups, was used. Eighteen residents with mid- to late-stage dementia from one aged care facility in Queensland, Australia, were recruited. Participants were assessed three times using the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease, Rating Anxiety in Dementia, Apathy Evaluation, Geriatric Depression, and Revised Algase Wandering Scales. PARO had a moderate to large positive influence on participants' quality of life compared to the reading group. The PARO intervention group had higher pleasure scores when compared to the reading group. Findings suggest PARO may be useful as a treatment option for people with dementia; however, the need for a larger trial was identified.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Practice Innovation, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Griffith University, Queenland, Australia. w.moyle@griffith.edu.au
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Moyle
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Chrystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D011793:Queensland; D012371:Robotics