Connecting the person with dementia and family: a feasibility study of a telepresence robot

BMC Geriatrics

Suzie Drummond²  Billy Sung²  Siobhan O’Dwyer³  Marie Cooke¹  Cindy Jones²  Wendy Moyle³ 

[1] School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane QLD 4111, Australia;Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane QLD 4111, Australia;Dementia Collaborative Research Centre – Carers and Consumers, QUT, Brisbane, Australia

关键词: Technology;    Long-term care;    Family;    Communication;    Telepresence robots;    Dementia;   

Others  :  855496
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2318-14-7

 received in 2013-11-01, accepted in 2014-01-22,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Maintenance of communication is important for people with dementia living in long-term care. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of using “Giraff”, a telepresence robot to enhance engagement between family and a person with dementia living in long-term care.

Methods

A mixed-methods approach involving semi-structured interviews, call records and video observational data was used. Five people with dementia and their family member participated in a discussion via the Giraff robot for a minimum of six times over a six-week period. A feasibility framework was used to assess feasibility and included video analysis of emotional response and engagement.

Results

Twenty-six calls with an average duration of 23 mins took place. Residents showed a general state of positive emotions across the calls with a high level of engagement and a minimal level of negative emotions. Participants enjoyed the experience and families reported that the Giraff robot offered the opportunity to reduce social isolation. A number of software and hardware challenges were encountered.

Conclusions

Participants perceived this novel approach to engage families and people with dementia as a feasible option. Participants were observed and also reported to enjoy the experience. The technical challenges identified have been improved in a newer version of the robot. Future research should include a feasibility trial of longer duration, with a larger sample and a cost analysis.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Moyle et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Haak NJ: Communication-The Heart of Caregiving. Alzheimer’s Care Today 2006, 7:77-83.
• [2]Moyle W, Kellett U, Ballantyne A, Gracia N: Dementia and loneliness: an Australian perspective. Journal of clinical nursing 2011, 20:1445-1453.
• [3]Bar M, Kruse A, Re S: Situations of emotional significance in residents suffering from dementia (In German). Journal of Gerontological Geriatrics 2003, 36:454-462.
• [4]Moyle W, Edwards H, Clinton M: Living with loss: dementia and the family caregiver. The Australian journal of advanced nursing: a quarterly publication of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation 2002, 19:25-31.
• [5]Bramble M, Moyle W, Shum D: A quasi-experimental design trial exploring the effect of a partnership intervention on family and staff well-being in long-term dementia care. Aging and Mental Health 2011, 15:995-1007.
• [6]Sheridan TB: Telerobotics, automation and human supervisory control. Cambridge: The MIT press; 1992.
• [7]Fels DI, Weiss PLT: Video-mediated communication in the classroom to support sick children: a case study. Int J Ind Ergon 2001, 28:251-263.
• [8]Thacker PD: Physician-robot makes the rounds. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 2005, 293:150-150.
• [9]Boissy P, Corriveau H, Michaud F, Labonté D, Royer M: A qualitative study of in-home robotic telepresence for home care of community-living elderly subjects. J Telemed Telecare 2007, 13:79-84.
• [10]Tsai TC, Hsu YL, Ma AI, King T, Wu CH: Developing a telepresence robot for interpersonal communication with the elderly in a home environment. Telemedicine journal and e-health 2007, 13:407-424. VGo Communication Inc. [http://www.vgocom.com/ webcite]
• [11]Ellison LM, Pinto PA, Kim F, Ong AM, Patriciu A, Stoianovici D, Rubin H, Jarret T, Kavoussi LR: Telerounding and patient satisfaction after surgery. J Am Coll Surg 2004, 199:523-530.
• [12]Giraff Technologies AB. http://www.giraff.org/ webcite
• [13]VGo robotic telepresence for healthcare, education and business. Retrieved 10 December 2013 from http://www.vgo.com webcite
• [14]Kristoffersson A, Loutfi AM, Coradeschi S: User-centered evaluation of robotic telepresence for an elderly population. In 2nd International Workshop on designing robotic artefacts with user- and experience-centered perspectives. Reykjavik; 2010.
• [15]Cesta A, Coradeschi S, Cortellessa G, Gonzalez J, Tiberio L, Rump VS: Enabling social interaction through embodiment in ExCITE. In ForItAAL: Second Italian Forum on Ambient Assisted Living. Trento; 2010.
• [16]Tiberio L, Padua L, Pellegrino AR, Aprile I, Cortellessa G, Cesta A: Assessing the tolerance of a telepresence robot in users with mild cognitive impairment. In Proceedings of HRI 2011 Workshop on Social Robotic Telepresence: 6 March 2011; Lausanne. Edited by Coradeschi S, Cortellessa G, Kristoffersson A, Loutfi A, Severinson-Eklundh K. Rome: Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies; 2011:23-28.
• [17]Bowen DJ, Kreuter M, Spring B, Cofta-Woerpel L, Linnan L, Weiner D, Bakken S, Kaplan CP, Squiers L, Fabrizio C, Fernandez M: How we design feasibility studies. Am J Prev Med 2009, 36:452-457.
• [18]Baxter P, Jack S: Qualitative case study methodology: study design and implementation for novice researchers. Qual Rep 2008, 13:544-559.
• [19]Norwood SL: Research essentials. Foundations for evidence-based practice. New Jersey: Pearson; 2010.
• [20]Noldus Observer XT 2013. http://www.noldus.com/human-behavior-research/products/the-observer-xt webcite
• [21]Lawton MP, Van Haitsma K, Klapper J: Observed affect in nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease. J Gerontol Ser B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 1996, 51B:3-14.
• [22]Cohen-Mansfield J, Dakheel-Ali M, Marx MS: Engagement in persons with dementia: the concept and its measurement. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2009, 17:299-307.
• [23]Clair AA: The effects of music therapy on engagement in family caregiver and care receiver couples with dementia. American journal of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias 2002, 17:286-290.
• [24]Roudier M, Marcie P, Grancher AS, Tzortzis C, Starkstein S, Boller F: Discrimination of facial identify and of emotions in Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Neuroscience Science 1998, 154:151-158.
• [25]Hadjistavropoulos T: Assessing pain in older persons with severe limitations in ability to communicate. In Pain in Older Persons. Edited by Gibson S, Weiner D. Seattle: IASP Press; 2005:135-51.