The Usability and Impact of a Low-Cost Pet Robot for Older Adults and People With Dementia: Qualitative Content Analysis of User Experiences and Perceptions on Consumer Websites

Abstract

Background Worldwide, populations are aging exponentially. Older adults and people with dementia are especially at risk of social isolation and loneliness. Social robots, including robotic pets, have had positive impacts on older adults and people with dementia by providing companionship, improving mood, reducing agitation, and facilitating social interaction. Nevertheless, the issue of affordability can hinder technology access. The Joy for All (JfA) robotic pets have showed promise as examples of low-cost alternatives. However, there has been no research that investigated the usability and impact of such low-cost robotic pets based on perceptions and experiences of its use with older adults and people with dementia. Objective The aim of our study was to explore the usability and impact of the JfA robotic cat, as an example of a low-cost robot, based on perceptions and experiences of using the JfA cat for older adults and people with dementia. Methods We used a novel methodology of analyzing a large volume of information that was uploaded by reviewers of the JfA cat onto online consumer review sites. Data were collected from 15 consumer websites. This provided a total of 2445 reviews. Next, all reviews were screened. A total of 1327 reviews that contained information about use of the JfA cat for older adults or people with dementia were included for analysis. These were reviews that contained terms relating to “older adults,” “dementia,” and “institutional care” and were published in the English language. Descriptive statistics was used to characterize available demographic information, and textual data were qualitatively analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results Most reviews were derived from consumer sites in the United States, and most reviewers were family members of users (ie, older adults and people with dementia). Based on the qualitative content analysis, 5 key themes were generated: prior expectations, perceptions, meaningful activities, impacts, and practicalities. Reviewers had prior expectations of the JfA cat, which included circumstantial reasons that prompted them to purchase this technology. Their perceptions evolved after using the technology, where most reported positive perceptions about their appearance and interactivity. The use of the robot provided opportunities for users to care for it and incorporate it into their routine. Finally, reviewers also shared information about the impacts of device and practicalities related to its use. Conclusions This study provides useful knowledge about the usability and impact of a low-cost pet robot, based on experiences and perceptions of its use. These findings can help researchers, robot developers, and clinicians understand the viability of using low-cost robotic pets to benefit older adults and people with dementia. Future research should consider evaluating design preferences for robotic pets, and compare the effects of low-cost robotic pets with other more technologically advanced robotic pets.

Determinants of implementing pet robots in nursing homes for dementia care

“…The JfA cat represents a lower-cost alternative, and have been chosen by older adults in care homes as their preferred pet robot design among seven other alternatives [6,13]. While the number of studies conducted to investigate the impacts of the JfA cat [14,15] are significantly less than that of PARO, findings of their positive impacts on the psychosocial health of users resonate with previous studies. Hence, despite the need for more definitive evidence on the effectiveness and impact of pet robots, there is promising findings of benefits to the psychosocial health of nursing home residents with dementia.…”

“…Economic accessibility to the different pet robots therefore highlights a pertinent gap between research and real-world needs [12]. While there is research evidence to support the use of pet robots especially PARO [9,10], there is a lesser volume of empirical evidence to support the use of the JfA cat [14,37]. However the lack of knowledge on their empirical evidence did not appear to have a negative impact on participants' perceptions of their evidence strength, as they referred to evidence from other sources-such as personal experiences with pet robots, an understanding of residents' unmet needs, and the intervention or supplier source (website for medical supplies).…”

The ethics of pet robots in dementia care settings: Care professionals’ and organisational leaders’ ethical intuitions

“…In addition, residents’ “attachment” to pet robots was not considered an issue unless it negatively influenced residents’ well-being. Other studies have shown that some individuals with dementia have expressed desires to establish an emotional connection with pet robots by interacting with or caring for them ( 31 , 55 ), even with the awareness that they were not real animals ( 28 )–this has been described as voluntary “suspensions of disbelief” ( 19 ).…”

“…In two qualitative studies, Moyle and colleagues found that while a few family members and long-term care staff expressed concerns about "infantilising" people with dementia through using pet robots, other participants appeared to place more weight on their positive impacts on users, such as improvements in mood (25,26). Similarly, previous studies revealed that some people with dementia interacted with them as if they were real animals and received comfort from their use (27,28). This seems to align more with other ethical arguments suggesting a focus on the consequences (i.e., positive or negative) of and motivations behind the "deception" (23).…”

Electronic Tracking Devices for People With Dementia: Content Analysis of Company Websites

“…Characteristics of the companies, websites, and electronic tracking devices were collected via a data collection form ( Multimedia Appendix 1 ). Descriptive statistics were applied to describe the form characteristics of companies, websites, and electronic tracking devices [ 53 ]. Textual data on characteristics regarding the content of website information were qualitatively analyzed using a modified form of the QUAGOL [ 40 , 41 ].…”