CARESSES Testing and Evaluation Phases

Summary

The aim of this study is to conduct and evaluate a controlled experimental trial aimed at exploring whether, to what extent and how a socially-assistive Pepper robot that operates on a unique CARESSES cultural competence solution can produce better health and well-being related outcomes among older adults residing in long stay care homes (and their informal carers) compared to a control socially-assistive Pepper robot with an alternative CARESSES solution, as well as care as usual.

Conditions

• Aging

Interventions

DEVICE

Socially-assistive Pepper robot with a CARESSES cultural competence solution

Week 1. On the first day, training will be provided to the participants enabling them to familiarise themselves with the robot's functionalities. The robot will be culturally aware i.e., it will be aware of the participants' cultural background prior to the testing commencing. As such, it will pre-load the appropriate CKB and apply this during its time with the participants. During the next two sessions, the robot will interact and provide culturally-competent assistance, however, it will not learn and adjust to the participants' individual cultural values and preferences. Week 2. The participants will again utilize the robot for three days, but it now will learn from the responses it receives from them, consequently interacting in a culture-specific personalised way.

DEVICE

Socially-assistive control Pepper robot with an alternative CARESSES solution

Week 1. On the first day, training will be provided to the participants enabling them to familiarise themselves with the robot's functionalities. During the next two sessions, the CARESSES control robot will not be culturally aware: it will pre-load a generic and more limited CKB that is not tailored for anyone's cultural profile. It will also not learn and adjust to the participants' values and preferences. Week 2. Participants will again utilize the robot for three days, but the CARESSES control robot will now be configured to be able to learn and adapt to the individual's particular profile. This robot's learning will not include propagation: improving its cultural knowledge base in one area will not also automatically lead to knowledge improvements in other related areas. This robot will possess the same full suite of functions as the CARESSES robot although will be less likely to offer these in a culturally appropriate way.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Università degli Studi of Genova

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Örebro University, Sweden

  collaborator OTHER

• Middlesex University

  collaborator OTHER

• SoftBank Robotics Europe

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Advinia Health Care limited

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Nagoya University

  collaborator OTHER

• Chubu University

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Bedfordshire

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Antonio Sgorbissa, ASSOC PROFESSOR · Università di Genova

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-02-15

Primary Completion

2019-10-31

Completion

2020-01-31

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations