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P4‐397: AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA
Author(s) -
Reilly Ann,
Bhar Sunil,
McCabe Maree
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.4068
Subject(s) - dementia , quality of life (healthcare) , thematic analysis , usability , psychology , mood , applied psychology , gerontology , augmented reality , activities of daily living , qualitative property , qualitative research , clinical psychology , medicine , computer science , psychiatry , sociology , artificial intelligence , psychotherapist , human–computer interaction , social science , disease , pathology , machine learning
Background: Apathy is one of the most prevalent behavioral symptoms in persons with dementia (PwD). It is associated with reduced quality of life and reduced independence, as well as caregiver frustration. International recommendations encourage nonpharmacological interventions as first-line treatment. This study examined whether a social robot (NAO) in occupational therapy intervention (OTI) could benefit PwD who suffer from apathy and professionals who supervise therapy. The organizational impact of the intervention was also investigated. Methods: A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted among 24 PwD suffering from apathy and living in nursing homes. We designed and analyzed an OTI in which a social robot (NAO) was used as a mediation tool between patients and professional over the course of 8 thematic group sessions (eg music, reminiscence). A pre, post and long-term (week 1, 8 and 12 respectively) assessments of apathy was conducted using two standardized rating scales. Use of psychotropic medication was reported. An observational checklist was developed by the research team to measure patients’ behaviors during sessions. The impact of the intervention was then examined from an organizational and a professional perspectives. Results: Findings showed a significant decrease in the intensity of apathetic symptoms after the 8-week intervention period (p<.05) but no long-term effect was found. Psychotropic consumption remained unchanged throughout the study. Patients displayed a high frequency of positive verbal and nonverbal behaviors during NAO-mediated sessions (eg laughs, attentional commitment). We analyzed 143 comments from professionals and results confirmed elders’ enthusiasm toward the intervention, as well as the potential limitations with the use of a robot. Finally, two main issues have been pointed out by the organizational analysis: a poor robot’ reliability (eg high maintenance costs) and, an increased workload and organizational commitment for professionals. Conclusions: The present study is an innovative research which investigates, for the first time, both clinical utility of NAO for dementia-related apathy and for professionals as well as impact on the organization. Understanding the clinical effects of such an intervention in relationship with the organizational requirements it entails and how it modifies professionals‘ attitudes regarding robot-mediated interventions is key to support robot technology adoption.