Comparing Robotic Pet Therapy and Pet Therapy for Dementia Patients

This article examines the effectiveness of robotic pet therapy compared to traditional pet therapy in reducing agitation and improving mood in dementia patients. The PICO model is used to formulate the research question and relevant literature is reviewed to provide evidence-based answers. Several studies are analyzed, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of both types of therapy. The findings suggest that robotic pet therapy can be a viable alternative to traditional pet therapy for dementia patients.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Nursing assignment
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author’s note:

1Nursing Assignment
Abbreviated PICO Worksheet and Search Strategy
A brief description of the problem or topic:
Dementia is a mental illness associated which gives rise to a collection of symptoms. In people suffering
from dementia, memory and thinking ability of the person is reduced (Livingston, et al., 2017). Pet
therapy, also identified as animal assisted therapy is used in the healing of dementia and helps in
reducing agitated behaviour and also helps in improving the mood of the patient (Kamioka, et al., 2014).
Are robotic pet therapy being more effective than pet therapy in reducing the agitated behaviour and
improving the mood of the patient with dementia.
P Population/
Patient/
patient with dementia
I Intervention Robotic Pet therapy
C Control/
Comparison
Pet therapy
O Outcomes Reducing agitated behaviours and improving the mood
Write out your question:
Is pet therapy being more effective than robotic pet therapy in reducing the agitation as well as
improving the mood of the patient suffering from dementia.
Identify
Databases Used
□ Cochrane Library □ PubMed/MEDLINE □ EMBASE □ CINAHL with
Full Text
□ PopLine □ Other ( Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar)
Keywords Search Terms Alternative terms/synonyms
P Dementia Mental disorders, mental deterioration, Alzheimer’s
disease, personality change
I Robotic Pet therapy Robotic therapy, social robot, socially assistive robot,
robot-assisted therapy
C Pet therapy Animal assisted therapy, animal assisted intervention

2Nursing Assignment
O Reducing agitated
behaviour and
improving the mood
Temper balancing, reducing nervousness, balancing
frame of mind, anxiety, promoting quality life
Search filters or
limit
□Age □ Language (English) □ Publication years (2014-2017) □
Other (peer reviewed)
Citation: Moyle, W., Jones, C. J., Murfield, J. E., Thalib, L., Beattie, E. R., Shum, D. K., ...
& Draper, B. M. (2017). Use of a robotic seal as a therapeutic tool to improve dementia
symptoms: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Directors
Association, 18(9), 766-773.
Annotation:
The authors of the article are doctorates holders and professors of Griffith University in
Australia. The determination of this report is to gauge the efficacy of socially assistive robots
in reducing aggression and anxiety in patient with dementia over animal assisted therapy. In
the article respondents were treated with treated in three groups, one with plush toy, second
with robotic pet and third with living animals. It is observed that the patient treated with
robotic seal has shown speedy recovery as compared to other animals. I believe that the study
is Nobel and the information provided are also true. It is under the five years’ frame work and
was listed under the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
Credible
Citation: Petersen, S., Houston, S., Qin, H., Tague, C., & Studley, J. (2017). The utilization
of robotic pets in dementia care. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 55(2), 569-574.
Annotation:
The author of this research are professor, director and doctors of College of Nursing & Health
Sciences in USA. The aim of this research is to identify the effectiveness of robotic pet

3Nursing Assignment
therapy over pet therapy in improving the mood and reducing anxiety in patients of dementia.
In this research, 61 respondents (patient) were selected, 77 %females of average age 83.4
years for the experiment. After 12 week of study, it has been observed that PARO (robotic
pet) is able to decrease anxiety, stress and helps in improving mood in patient with dementia.
In case of living pet some negative effects such as allergies, biting, scratching is also
associated which are avoided in case of robotic pet. I believe that the study is of high quality
as funded by Baylor Deer Brook Charitable Trust. The paper is within the five years’
framework for evidence.
Credible
Citation: Thodberg, K., Sørensen, L. U., Videbech, P. B., Poulsen, P. H., Houbak, B.,
Damgaard, V., ... & Christensen, J. W. (2016). Behavioral responses of nursing home
residents to visits from a person with a dog, a robot seal or atoy cat. Anthrozoös, 29(1), 107-
121.
Annotation:
The authors of this paper are research fellows and professors of Aarhus University and
healthcare staff of psychiatric centre Glostrup in Denmark. The study focuses on the
comparison of animal assisted therapy and robotic therapy in the treatment of anxiety in the
patient suffering from dementia. In this research total of 100 respondents (dementia patient)
were selected from the nursing home, which were equally distributed in to groups. One is
treated with the help of living dogs and other with the help of robotic seal (PARO). From the
result it is observed that both the therapy helps in providing effective results and helps is
reducing anxiety and aggression, but the robot remain unsuccessful to sustain the notice of
the patient for the long time and hence has an disadvantage. I believe that the selected
research article is decent as it was funded by TrygFonden, Denmark and it is inside five
years’ time frame for clinical evidence.

4Nursing Assignment
Credible
Citation: Banks, M. R., Willoughby, L. M., & Banks, W. A. (2008). Animal-assisted therapy
and loneliness in nursing homes: use of robotic versus living dogs. Journal of the American
Medical Directors Association, 9(3), 173-177.
Annotation:
The authors of this article are professors and directors of Saint Louis University School of
Medicine, St. Louis. The study aims to compare the efficacy of pet therapy and robotic pet
therapy in patient with dementia. In the research, patient suffering from dementia in the
geriatric hospitals are selected as respondents. Some respondents are treated with living dogs
whereas others are treated with AIBO (robotic pet). It is analysed that recovery rate is
increased in case of patient treated with AIBO as it follows all the orders given by them such
as sitting in lap. I believe that the article is good and the findings are also of high quality as it
is funded by American Medical Directors Association. The paper is outside the five years
framework.
Not credible
Citation: Kramer, S. C., Friedmann, E., & Bernstein, P. L. (2009). Comparison of the effect
of human interaction, animal-assisted therapy, and AIBO-assisted therapy on long-term care
residents with dementia. Anthrozoös, 22(1), 43-57.
Annotation:
The authors of the article are professors of different health universities of New York. The
study states the advantages of robotic pet therapy over conventional pet therapy in improving
mood, managing temper and reducing anxiety and aggression in patient suffering from
dementia. This study is conducted into aged care home among the patient diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s disease as old age persons are more prone to such disorders. Therapy sessions
using robotic pet (AIBO) and living pet (Dogs) were conducted. After some time, it was

5Nursing Assignment
observed that, the patient treated with robotic pet have better health condition as compared to
other patients. In addition, anxiety and nervousness were also reduced and social
communication increased. I believe that the findings obtained from the research are
principled. However, it was not under the five years frame work.
Not credible
Reflection:
In the assignment, PICO model is used, it is one of the best evidence-based practice method.
PICO stands for, P– population or patient, I for intervention, C for comparison and O stands
for outcomes. PICO model helps in handling the clinical question related to patient’s
condition. In the study, I used PICO model of evidence based practice answer the clinical
question which includes the comparison of effectiveness of pet therapy and robotic and
therapy in handling the patient suffering from dementia resulting in improving the mood and
reducing agitation and anxiety of the patient. Dementia is a mental disorder constituting
various fatal symptoms such as depression. Pet therapy is used as an intervention to treat
dementia and robotic assisted therapy is also used. By the help of PICO, high quality
literature significant to the topic are obtained. By identifying the key words relatable to the
topic, more relevant articles are selected, which helps in answering the question.

6Nursing Assignment
Bibliography
Banks, M. R., Willoughby, L. M., & Banks, W. A. (2008). Animal-assisted therapy and
loneliness in nursing homes: use of robotic versus living dogs. Journal of the
American Medical Directors Association, 9(3), 173-177.
Kramer, S. C., Friedmann, E., & Bernstein, P. L. (2009). Comparison of the effect of human
interaction, animal-assisted therapy, and AIBO-assisted therapy on long-term care
residents with dementia. Anthrozoös, 22(1), 43-57.
Moyle, W., Jones, C. J., Murfield, J. E., Thalib, L., Beattie, E. R., Shum, D. K., ... & Draper,
B. M. (2017). Use of a robotic seal as a therapeutic tool to improve dementia
symptoms: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical
Directors Association, 18(9), 766-773.
Petersen, S., Houston, S., Qin, H., Tague, C., & Studley, J. (2017). The utilization of robotic
pets in dementia care. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 55(2), 569-574.
Thodberg, K., Sørensen, L. U., Videbech, P. B., Poulsen, P. H., Houbak, B., Damgaard, V., ...
& Christensen, J. W. (2016). Behavioral responses of nursing home residents to visits
from a person with a dog, a robot seal or atoy cat. Anthrozoös, 29(1), 107-121.