Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-t5pn6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T08:41:10.232Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A pilot study exploring staff acceptability of a socially assistive robot in a residential care facility that accommodates people under 65 years old

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2017

Samantha M. Loi Open the ORCID record for Samantha M. Loi [Opens in a new window] ,
Alice Bennett ,
Marta Pearce ,
Khanh Nguyen ,
Nicola T. Lautenschlager ,
Rajiv Khosla  and
Dennis Velakoulis
Samantha M. Loi*
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Alice Bennett
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Marta Pearce
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Khanh Nguyen
Affiliation:
Research Centre for Computers, Communication and Social Innovation, Latrobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Rajiv Khosla
Affiliation:
Research Centre for Computers, Communication and Social Innovation, Latrobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Dennis Velakoulis
Affiliation:
NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Samantha M. Loi, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Unit, John Cade Level 2, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. Phone: +61-3-9342-8750; Fax: +61-3-9342-8483. Email: Samantha.loi@unimelb.edu.au.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Socially assistive robots have successfully been trialed in residential care facilities (RCFs) for older adults. These robots may have potential for younger adults (i.e. under 65 years old) who also live in RCFs. However, it is important to investigate staff acceptability and ease-of-use of these robots. This pilot study used the Technology Acceptance Model to investigate how staff working in a specialized RCF for younger adults accept Betty, a socially assistive robot who was introduced in the facility for 12 weeks. Twenty-four staff completed pre-questionnaires, reporting that they thought Betty would have the ability to engage and entertain the residents they cared for. While there were only eight staff who completed the post-questionnaires, there were significant improvements compared to the pre-questionnaire results in areas such as residents enjoying the contact and activities. Impacting on ease-of use were technical difficulties. Although this study had limitations and could be improved by a better response rate and investigating the residents’ acceptability of Betty, this study is one of the first to report that this novel technology may have much potential for engaging adults in RCFs.

Keywords

carerspsychosocial interventionsresidential facilitiestechnologyrobots
Type
Brief Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 30 , Issue 7: Issue Theme: Benzodiazepines and Hypnotics , July 2018 , pp. 1075 - 1080
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2012). Residential Aged Care in Australia 2010–11: A Statistical Overview. Canberra: AIHW.Google Scholar
Bemelmans, R., Gelderblom, G. J., Jonker, P. and de Witte, L. (2012). Socially assistive robots in elderly care: a systematic review into effects and effectiveness. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 13, 114–120.e1.Google Scholar
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13, 319–340.Google Scholar
Khosla, R. and Chu, M.-T. (2013). Embodying care in Matilda: an affective communication robot for emotional wellbeing of older people in Australian residential care facilities. ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems, 4, 18.11–18.33.Google Scholar
Livingston, G. et al. (2014). Non-pharmacological interventions for agitation in dementia: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. British Journal of Psychiatry, 205, 436–442.Google Scholar
Livingston, G., Johnston, K., Katona, C., Paton, J. and Lyketsos, C. G. (2005). Systematic review of psychological approaches to the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 1996–2021.Google Scholar
Loi, S. et al. (2017). A pilot study using apps as a novel strategy for the management of challenging behaviors seen in people living in residential care. International Psychogeriatrics, 29, 637–643.Google Scholar
Moyle, W., Bramble, M., Jones, C. and Murfield, J. (2016). Care staff perceptions of a social robot called Paro and a look-alike Plush Toy: a descriptive qualitative approach. Aging Mental Health. Epublished ahead of print, doi:10.1080/13607863.2016.1262820.Google Scholar
Roach, P., Keady, J. and Bee, P. (2012). 'It's easier just to separate them': practice constructions in the mental health care and support of younger people with dementia and their families. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 19, 555–562.Google Scholar
Shibata, T. and Wada, K. (2011). Robot therapy: a new approach for mental healthcare of the elderly – a mini-review. Gerontology, 57, 378–386.Google Scholar