Use of a Social Robot (LOVOT) for Persons With Dementia: Exploratory Study.
Birthe Dinesen, Helle Kidde Hansen, Gry Bruun Grønborg and 5 others
PMID 35916689WHAT IT FOUND
Staff reported the LOVOT robot calmed residents and sparked conversation, but well-being scores did not improve.
Some residents rejected the robot or became overstimulated. This was a small pilot, so it does not prove the robot works.
Key findings
01There were no clinically significant changes in the well-being of the persons with dementia who participated in the individual or group sessions.
02Health care professionals observed that residents tended to show more positive facial expressions immediately after sessions with the robot, though this effect was not sustained over time.
03Staff described the robot as a tool that facilitated communication and provided a breathing space, but noted it was not accepted by all residents and could cause overstimulation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This was a small pilot study with only 42 participants and no control group, so it cannot determine if the robot caused the observed effects. Data on well-being and mood were collected by health care staff rather than the residents themselves, introducing potential observer bias. The sample was heavily skewed toward female participants (only 9 men out of 42), limiting generalizability. The study duration may have been too short for residents to adjust to the robot, which the authors suggest might explain the lack of change in well-being scores. The perspectives of residents' relatives were not included in the study.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was not funded by the manufacturer of the robot (Groove X), and the robot was not connected to the internet due to GDPR regulations.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the robot improves long-term well-being or mood. The study found no significant change in well-being scores, and any positive mood effects were momentary and inconsistent. Furthermore, do not assume all residents will accept the robot; some rejected it or became overstimulated.