How do "robopets" impact the health and well-being of residents in care homes? A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence.
Rebecca Abbott, Noreen Orr, Paige McGill and 5 others
PMID 31070870WHAT IT FOUND
Robopets significantly reduced agitation in residents with dementia, but showed no pooled effect on loneliness, depression or quality of life.
Engagement varied widely: some residents sought them out, others found them irritating or infantilising. They are not a replacement for human interaction.
Key findings
01Meta-analysis of two trials showed a significant reduction in agitation with Paro compared to standard care (SMD -0.32, p = 0.03).
02Pooled data showed no significant effect on loneliness, depression or quality of life.
03Qualitative evidence identified that robopets could cause negative reactions, including overstimulation, aggression, and feelings of infantilisation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The quantitative evidence is based on small sample sizes and short durations, with no long-term follow-up. Blinding of participants and personnel was largely impossible, increasing the risk of performance bias. Outcome measures were inconsistent across studies, and many important outcomes (like staff and family perspectives) were not measured quantitatively. The review includes a mix of different robopet types and intervention models (group vs individual, facilitated vs self-directed), making generalisation difficult.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reduction in agitation as evidence that robopets improve overall quality of life or reduce loneliness. The pooled data for these outcomes was not statistically significant, and qualitative findings show that for some residents, robopets can cause distress or feelings of infantilisation.