title: Group sessions with Paro in a nursing home: Structure, observations and interviews.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We recently reported that a companion robot reduced residents' loneliness in a randomised controlled trial at an aged-care facility. This report aims to provide additional, previously unpublished data about how the sessions were run, residents' interactions with the robot and staff perspectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observations were conducted focusing on engagement, how residents treated the robot and if the robot acted as a social catalyst. In addition, 16 residents and 21 staff were asked open-ended questions at the end of the study about the sessions and the robot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Observations indicated that some residents engaged on an emotional level with Paro, and Paro was treated as both an agent and an artificial object. Interviews revealed that residents enjoyed sharing, interacting with and talking about Paro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports other research showing Paro has psychosocial benefits and provides a guide for those wishing to use Paro in a group setting in aged care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broadbent
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009735:Nursing Homes; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: Paro; human-robot interaction; qualitative; robotics; staff