title: The psychosocial effects of a companion robot: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the psychosocial effects of the companion robot, Paro, in a rest home/hospital setting in comparison to a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial. Residents were randomized to the robot intervention group or a control group that attended normal activities instead of Paro sessions. Sessions took place twice a week for an hour over 12 weeks. Over the trial period, observations were conducted of residents' social behavior when interacting as a group with the robot. As a comparison, observations were also conducted of all the residents during general activities when the resident dog was or was not present.
  
  
  METHODS
  A residential care facility in Auckland, New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty residents in hospital and rest home care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residents completed a baseline measure assessing cognitive status, loneliness, depression, and quality of life. At follow-up, residents completed a questionnaire assessing loneliness, depression, and quality of life. During observations, behavior was noted and collated for instances of talking and stroking the dog/robot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, residents who interacted with the robot had significant decreases in loneliness over the period of the trial. Both the resident dog and the seal robot made an impact on the social environment in comparison to when neither was present. Residents talked to and touched the robot significantly more than the resident dog. A greater number of residents were involved in discussion about the robot in comparison with the resident dog and conversation about the robot occurred more.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paro is a positive addition to this environment and has benefits for older people in nursing home care. Paro may be able to address some of the unmet needs of older people that a resident animal may not, particularly relating to loneliness.
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
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Ngaire
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kerse
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broadbent
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011788:Quality of Life; D012371:Robotics
keywords: Paro; Robotics; depression; human-robot interaction; loneliness; quality of life