This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

TTRN CPH 2022: "Digital Health beyond COVID-19: Lessons Learned" (37)

Published on in Vol 9 (2023)

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/41524, first published .
Testing the Social Robot LOVOT´s Interaction With Adults With Autism and Mental Impairment: Preliminary Findings

Testing the Social Robot LOVOT´s Interaction With Adults With Autism and Mental Impairment: Preliminary Findings

Testing the Social Robot LOVOT´s Interaction With Adults With Autism and Mental Impairment: Preliminary Findings

Authors of this article:

Lajla Holtebo Gregersen1 Author Orcid Image ;   Sofie Dalskov Leisted2 Author Orcid Image ;   Frederik Samuelsen2 Author Orcid Image ;   Birthe Dinesen2 Author Orcid Image
Article Authors Cited by Tweetations Metrics

    Abstract

    1Team Strategy and Development, Jobs and Welfare, Aalborg Municipality, Aalborg, Denmark

    2Laboratory for Welfare Technology – Digital Health & Rehabilitation, Sport Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Corresponding Author:

    Lajla Holtebo Gregersen, MSc

    Team Strategy and Development, Jobs and Welfare

    Aalborg Municipality

    Søndergade

    Aalborg, 9000

    Denmark

    Phone: 45 99827420

    Email: lgre-jv@aalborg.dk


    Background: Persons with autism and mental impairment face communicative, social, and behavioral challenges, and there is a need to establish effective interventions to improve the quality of daily life. Social robots working with children with autism have successfully improved their communication and social behavior and reduced stereotypic behavior. However, there is only limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of social robots.

    Objective: This study aimed to investigate the interactions, effects on well-being, experiences from health care professionals, and ethical aspects of deploying the LOVOT social robot as a tool for adults with autism and mental impairment.

    Methods: Two social robots have been deployed in 3 residences. A total of 12 adults with autism and mental impairment were recruited. Individual planned sessions on interaction with the social robots are being carried out twice a week for 20-30 minutes over a period of 6 months. Participant observations are carried out every second week during the 6 months on themes such as well-being, interaction with the robot, the level of arousal, eye contact, and communication. Observations have been documented through standardized observation protocols and by video recording. Experiences from health care professionals and ethical aspects have been explored using semistructured interviews.

    Results: Preliminary results indicate that LOVOT has improved the well-being of participants. Although the participants’ interest in LOVOT varies, the health care professionals report that some participants find great satisfaction interacting with LOVOT, describing LOVOT as a friend, and that LOVOT can provide comfort in stressed situations. Two LOVOTs were damaged by the participants during the study, indicating the importance of robust material in interventions with adults with autism and mental impairment.

    Conclusions: Preliminary findings indicate that social robots can increase well-being among persons with autism and mental impairment.  Future care of persons with autism and mental impairment might benefit from the use of social robots as part of their care and quality of life.

    Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

    iproc 2023;9:e41524

    doi:10.2196/41524

    Keywords

    telerehabilitation; artificial intelligence 

    Edited by T Leung; This is a non–peer-reviewed article. submitted 28.07.22; accepted 27.03.23; published 03.04.23

    Copyright

    ©Lajla Holtebo Gregersen, Sofie Dalskov Leisted, Frederik Samuelsen, Birthe Dinesen. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 03.04.2023.

    This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in Iproceedings, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.iproc.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.