Animal-assisted or Robot-assisted Interventions in Health Promotion for Elderly With Dementia

Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dementia

Treatments: Other: Animal-assisted activity; Other: Robot-assisted activity

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01998490

2012/1144

Details and patient eligibility

About

The overall research aim of this study is to investigate changes in measures related to the risk of falls among elderly with dementia participating in animal-assisted or robot-assisted interventions. In addition the study will investigate how knowledge transfer occurs among involved health personnel, and how knowledge is refined and transformed as practical competence. The design will be a prospective and cluster randomized multicenter trial, but mixed-methods will be used to target different outcomes. The study population will be elderly (age above 65) at nursing homes diagnosed with dementia, or having a cognitive deficit. The intervention will consist of 30 minutes sessions with animal-assisted activity or robot-assisted activity two times a week for 12 weeks in groups of 4-6 participants. Control groups will receive treatment as usual. Research questions:

1. Is there an effect in use of ordinary and optional medication among elderly persons with dementia at nursing homes participating in animal-assisted or robot-assisted interventions compared to a control group?
2. Is there an effect on agitation, restlessness and depression among elderly persons with dementia at nursing homes participating in animal-assisted or robot-assisted interventions compared to a control group?
3. Is there an effect on social interaction, activeness and wellbeing among elderly persons with dementia at nursing homes participating in animal-assisted or robot-assisted interventions compared to a control group?

Enrollment: 88 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of dementia or having a cognitive deficit measured as a score less than 25 on Mini-Mental State Examination.

Exclusion criteria

• Fear of dogs
• Dog allergy
• Need of wheel chair

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

88 participants in 3 patient groups

Animal-assisted activity

Experimental group

Description:

30 minutes group session with animal-assisted activity twice a week for 12 weeks in groups of 4-6 participants.

Treatment:

Other: Animal-assisted activity

Robot-assisted activity

Experimental group

Description:

30 minutes group session with robot-assisted activity with the robot seal Paro twice a week for 12 weeks in groups of 4-6 participants

Treatment:

Other: Robot-assisted activity

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group with treatment as usual