Interaction Assessment of a Social-Care Robot in Day center Patients with Mild to Moderate Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

Abstract

As dementia-induced impairments of daily functioning escalate, novel cognitive stimulation techniques utilizing technological advances, like social robots, have surfaced. This study examines the interaction level of the EBO social-care robot with day center patients in Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. The study uses systematic video analysis as a method of interaction assessment. This observational pilot study was performed on patients above 65 with mild to moderate cognitive impairment (Minimental State Examination ≥ 21) receiving cognitive therapy at the AZTIDE social and health center. Two individualized 10–15 min sessions, replicating the Wizard of Oz technique, were conducted per participant, with the human operator’s commands being unnoticeably executed by the EBO robot. Of the six participants involved, all maintained complete eye contact with the robot, with 83.3% of the interactions recording maximum attention. Participants felt comfortable and calm, rating conversational factors such as attentiveness and naturalness as ’good’ or ‘excellent’. The high interaction level with the EBO robot suggests it as a promising tool for cognitive stimulation in patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. The systematic video evaluation also appears effective in assessing user–robot interaction, thus underscoring its potential utility in future social robotics research.