Petersen Sandra, Houston Susan, Qin Huanying, Tague Corey, Studley Jill
The University of Texas at Tyler, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Tyler, TX, USA.
Baylor Scott & White Health Care System Office of the CNO, Plano, TX, USA.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2017;55(2):569-574. doi: 10.3233/JAD-160703.
Behavioral problems may affect individuals with dementia, increasing the cost and burden of care. Pet therapy has been known to be emotionally beneficial for many years. Robotic pets have been shown to have similar positive effects without the negative aspects of traditional pets. Robotic pet therapy offers an alternative to traditional pet therapy.
The study rigorously assesses the effectiveness of the PARO robotic pet, an FDA approved biofeedback device, in treating dementia-related symptoms.
A randomized block design with repeated measurements guided the study. Before and after measures included reliable, valid tools such as: RAID, CSDD, GDS, pulse rate, pulse oximetry, and GSR. Participants interacted with the PARO robotic pet, and the control group received standard activity programs. Five urban secure dementia units comprised the setting.
61 patients, with 77% females, average 83.4 years in age, were randomized into control and treatment groups. Compared to the control group, RAID, CSDD, GSR, and pulse oximetry were increased in the treatment group, while pulse rate, pain medication, and psychoactive medication use were decreased. The changes in GSR, pulse oximetry, and pulse rate over time were plotted for both groups. The difference between groups was consistent throughout the 12-week study for pulse oximetry and pulse rate, while GSR had several weeks when changes were similar between groups.
Treatment with the PARO robot decreased stress and anxiety in the treatment group and resulted in reductions in the use of psychoactive medications and pain medications in elderly clients with dementia.
行为问题可能会影响痴呆症患者，增加护理成本和负担。多年来，宠物疗法在情感方面的益处已为人所知。事实证明，机器人宠物具有类似的积极效果，且没有传统宠物的负面影响。机器人宠物疗法为传统宠物疗法提供了一种替代方案。
本研究严格评估了经美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）批准的生物反馈设备PARO机器人宠物在治疗痴呆相关症状方面的有效性。
该研究采用随机区组设计并进行重复测量。测量前后使用了可靠、有效的工具，如：痴呆症评定量表（RAID）、痴呆症行为障碍量表（CSDD）、老年抑郁量表（GDS）、脉搏率、脉搏血氧饱和度和皮肤电反应（GSR）。参与者与PARO机器人宠物互动，对照组接受标准活动项目。研究地点为五个城市的安全痴呆症护理单元。
61名患者被随机分为对照组和治疗组，其中77%为女性，平均年龄83.4岁。与对照组相比，治疗组的RAID、CSDD、GSR和脉搏血氧饱和度有所增加，而脉搏率、止痛药和精神活性药物的使用则有所减少。绘制了两组随时间变化的GSR、脉搏血氧饱和度和脉搏率变化图。在为期12周的研究中，两组在脉搏血氧饱和度和脉搏率方面的差异在整个研究过程中保持一致，而GSR在几周内两组的变化相似。
PARO机器人治疗可减轻治疗组的压力和焦虑，并减少老年痴呆症患者精神活性药物和止痛药 的使用。
