Psychosocial effects of a humanoid robot on informal caregivers of people with dementia: A randomised controlled trial with nested interviews

Background: Dementia rates are rising globally, impacting healthcare systems and society. The care of people with dementia is largely provided by informal caregivers (e.g., family, friends), which can present significant challenges and increase caregivers' burden. New technologies, such as humanoid socially assistive robots, show promise in reducing this burden, as such robots were considered to be supportive devices for both informal caregivers and people with dementia.

Objective: To explore the psychosocial effects of the humanoid social assistive robot Coach Pepper (equipped with functions like tablet-based multimodal training for people with dementia) compared to exclusively tablet-based multimodal training for people with dementia on informal caregivers. Additionally, informal caregivers' attitudes and experiences with Coach Pepper were examined.

Design: A randomised controlled parallel two-arm trial with a nested qualitative study was conducted.

Setting: The study took place in the home setting (i.e. private households).

Participants: Thirty-two informal caregivers of people with dementia participated in the study.

Methods: Informal caregivers (and their loved one with dementia) were randomly assigned to Coach Pepper (n = 16) or a solely tablet-based multimodal training (n = 16) for a three-week period. Data for caregivers were collected at baseline and after the intervention by standardised questionnaires for caregiver burden (primary outcome), quality of life, depressive symptoms and affect. Additionally, acceptance was measured in both groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted in the Coach Pepper group post-interventionally.

Results: No significant differences in mean changes between groups were identified in the outcomes, except that two domains of acceptance (usefulness and accessibility) were rated significantly higher for the control group. Qualitative findings showed mostly positive attitudes towards Coach Pepper in dementia care and neutral feelings on caregiver burden. Caregivers reported usefulness of Coach Pepper on being assistive in six components of human needs: 'learning ability', 'recreational activities', 'contact with others', 'mobility/body posture', 'communication' and 'avoiding danger'. However, they recommended further improvement in all fourteen components of human needs.

Conclusions: Coach Pepper had no significant psychosocial effects on informal caregivers of people with dementia. Qualitative findings demonstrated the participants' positive attitudes but highlighted a need for improvements regarding Coach Pepper's usability.

Registration: NCT03818217 (date of registration: 09.01.2019; date of first recruitment: 04.02.2019).