Improving well-being in patients with major neurodegenerative disorders: differential efficacy of brief social robot-based intervention for 3 neuropsychiatric profiles

Figures & data

Figure 1 Paro^® robot seal.

Figure 2 Protocol phases.

Abbreviations: I-PANAS SF, International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short-Form; MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination; NPI-ES, Neuropsychiatric Inventory for Health Staff.

Table 1 Usability and perception measures of Paro^® robot

Dimension	Item	Response patterns
Usability	• I think that I would like to use Paro frequently	LIK
	• I found Paro unnecessarily complex	LIK
	• I think that Paro was easy to use	LIK
	• I think that I would need the support of a person to be able to use Paro	LIK
	• I found the various functions of Paro are well integrated	LIK
	• I think that Paro shows too much inconsistency	LIK
	• I would imagine that most people would learn to use this Paro very quickly	LIK
	• I found Paro very complicated to use	LIK
	• I felt very confident using Paro	LIK
	• I needed to learn a lot of things before I could interact with Paro	LIK
Perception	• I think that Paro is intrusive	LIK
	• I think that Paro is stigmatizing	LIK
	• I think that Paro is childish	LIK

Note: LIK, Likert-type scale, with scores ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5).

Figure 3 Flowchart of the quasi-experimental pilot study.

Note: *After medical advice.

Table 2 Demographics, psychometrics, and clinical characteristics of participants

Characteristics	Agitated patient group	Depressed patient group	Apathetic patient group	p-value
Sample size, n (%)	4 (24%)	7 (41%)	6 (35%)
Gender, % of women	75%	85%	83%	0.90
Age (years), mean (SD)	84.8 (11.1)	88.1 (5.4)	83.5 (7.2)	0.62
Level of education,a mean (SD)	5.5 (1.3)	4.7 (1.8)	4.7 (1.9)	0.72
MMSE,b mean (SD)	13.5 (2.4)	17 (4.5)	16.8 (3.3)	0.23
NPI-ES, mean (SD)c
Agitation score	8 (3.2)	0 (0)	0.83 (2)	0.002
Depression score	3.0 (3.4)	7 (4.6)	2.3 (1.8)	0.07
Apathy score	0 (0)	0 (0)	6.5 (1.7)	0.00

Notes:

a Scored from 1 to 7;

b scored from 0 to 30;

c scored from 0 to 12.

Abbreviations: MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination; NPI-ES, Neuropsychiatric Inventory for Health Staff.

Figure 4 Overall affectivity scores pre- and postintervention.

Note: *Significant result (p<0.05).

Table 3 Comparison of outcomes between groups

	Outcomes	Agitated patient group	Depressed patient group	Apathetic patient group	p-value	Adjustedap-value
Emotional well-being	Positive affectivity – mean (SD)
	Baseline (day 1)	9.25 (1.71)	10.17 (1.72)	12.40 (3.21)	0.21	0.10
	Postintervention (day 12)	14.25 (4.11)	15.50 (4.18)	10.80 (3.96)	0.10	0.28
	Mean difference (day 12 – day 1)	+5.00 (3.46)	+5.33 (3.72)	−1.60 (5.73)	0.10	0.08
	Negative affectivity – mean (SD)
	Baseline (day 1)	9.75 (4.43)	8.17 (2.79)	9.80 (5.36)	0.82	0.81
	Postintervention (day 12)	6.50 (1.29)	10.33 (5.28)	7.60 (3.44)	0.59	0.50
	Mean difference (day 12 – day 1)	−3.25 (3.20)	+2.16 (3.60)	−2.20 (2.59)	0.03b	0.02b
	Robot usability and perception – mean (SD)
	Postintervention (day 12)	71.25 (13.62)	80.83 (11.90)	74.50 (14.83)	0.53	0.55

Notes:

a Adjusted based on multiple imputation method;

b significant results (p<0.05).

Table 4 Categories and examples of responses during Paro^® exposition

Topics	Examples
Expressing emotions	Mrs G, 95 y/o: “I am happy with you”
	Mrs D, 68 y/o: “When you are here, I am as calm as you”
	Mrs R, 92 y/o: “I am tired, I am sick […] That’s why I stay in bed”
	Mr G, 84 y/o: “I am not well at all”
Interpreting Paro’s behaviors	Mrs R, 77 y/o: “You feel a little worried […].
	Do not cry, or I am going to cry too.”
	Mrs D, 87 y/o: “You seem upset.”
Reminiscing	Mrs M, 83 y/o: “You remind me of my dog […].We played together when I was young.”
	Mrs C, 81 y/o: “Look how beautiful it is today, it is summer […]. In the summer we go swimming with my parents. Those were better days, don’t you think so?”

Notes: The interventions were conducted in French and were recorded. The responses were then translated from French to English and verified by two bilingual neuropsychologists (VCL and MD) for the purpose of this publication.