Using telehealth to optimize healthy independent living for older adults: A feasibility study.
Tamilyn Bakas, Debi Sampsel, Jahmeel Israel and 5 others
PMID 29804689WHAT IT FOUND
A nurse-led telepresence robot intervention reduced unhealthy days and improved confidence in older adults.
However, the study was too small to prove these effects, and aerobic activity actually decreased in the treatment group while increasing in controls.
Key findings
01Participants receiving the robot-delivered coaching showed a medium effect size reduction in unhealthy days compared to waitlist controls.
02Aerobic activity declined in the intervention group but increased sharply in the control group, a trend opposite to what was expected.
03Confidence and self-efficacy improved during the intervention but began to decline a month after the sessions ended.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (21 participants analyzed), making it impossible to draw firm conclusions about efficacy. The study was not powered to detect statistical significance; results rely on effect size estimates which can be unstable in small samples. Treatment diffusion likely occurred because the waitlist control group received the self-management toolkit and a health assessment at baseline, which may have improved their outcomes and reduced the apparent effect of the robot intervention. The sample was homogeneous, consisting mostly of affluent, Caucasian, and well-educated older adults, limiting generalizability to more diverse populations. The unexpected decline in aerobic activity in the treatment group suggests the intervention may not be effective for increasing physical activity, or that other goals displaced exercise focus.
Declared interests
The authors disclosed no competing financial interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reduction in unhealthy days as proof of efficacy. The study was a small pilot not powered for significance, and the control group received the same self-management toolkit and baseline assessment, which likely influenced their outcomes and confounded the comparison.