The PARO project

PARO is a robotic medical device used with people with dementia and learning disabilities invented by Professor Takanori Shibata from Japan.

Dr Penny Dodds is leading a participatory action research project to explore the introduction of PARO to dementia care within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is only the second NHS trust to start using PARO in everyday practice.

Research shows that it lessens stress and anxiety, promotes social interaction, facilitates emotional expression, improves mood, improves speech fluency.

Paro and Penny Dodds

Dr Penny Dodds, Lecturer Practitioner, school of health sciences, and Paro the robotic harp seal, otherwise known as Clarence or Snowdrop by petting patients.

Project aims

There are three stages to the project.

Stage 1 - practice development activity with the staff on the unit to explore the introduction of PARO. This generates what research directions are considered important from the experiences of people with dementia and front line staff. This will generate ideas about the process of getting an innovation into everyday practice.

Stage 2 – Using PARO as a therapeutic intervention with people with dementia on individual and in groups. This stage requires ethics approval and data will be captured using a range of methods including video recording.   (A Masters in Clinical Research Student  is attached to this stage)

Stage 3 – planning towards a larger scale research study. The question and methodology will be informed by the ideas arising from stage 1 and 2. We hope that a Phd studentship can be attached to this stage.

Paro being used with a patient

Project findings and impact

Initial findings from stage one included planning the introduction with staff which highlighted the importance of addressing practical concerns such as control of infection, risk and safety, training in how to use PARO. Staff also generated ideas about who might benefit from PARO and why.

People with dementia show a range of responses. These include:

  • using PARO to show love and affection
  • reminisce about past pets
  • PARO soothes and reduces agitation and aggression
  • can be useful as a transition object when people with dementia become upset when relatives leave
  • facilitates discussions about parenting and looking after small children
  • promotes fluency in speech and verbal interaction
  • may be useful with people with dementia who are also depressed and withdrawn
  • promotes social interaction between people
  • people with dementia show increase in indicators of wellbeing.
  • may be a useful counter measure to be used with people whose have a negative experiences when needing to be touched or helped physically
  • some people do not like PARO, some find the noise distressing and that they perceive it as a child crying
  • staff engage and use PARO in practice where they see it has a direct impact on some behaviour which they find more challenging.

Other impact and outcomes

  • University of Brighton hosted a seminar (Oct 2014) where  Professor Takanori Shibata presented international work of PARO, Sheffield Unit presented their work and the Sussex Participatory Project was presented. Attendees included people from robotics and technology, social care staff, dept of health researchers, clinical staff from Kent and surrey, a German documentary film maker, people from learning disabilities.
  • Links created with other areas interested in using PARO (for example Sheffield, Derbyshire, Age UK, Coventry and Warwick, London)
  • Local and national media coverage and social network exposure
  • PARO has made numerous public appearances at : the Trust Research and Development conference; Sussex Partnership NHS Nursing Conference, Dementia UK congress, trips to Kent and Medway Dementia Services,
  • Highly commended poster from Health Education Kent Surrey Sussex Enhancing Innovation through Collaboration Award
  • Pre-Registration Nursing Student attachment to the PARO project

Research team

Research Team and PARO Project Steering Group

Dr Penny Dodds (Chief Investigator)

Professor Julie Scholes, University of Brighton

Dr Kathy Martyn, University of Brighton

Professor Jenny Rusted, Sussex University

Dr Sally Stapleton, Clinical Psychologist, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Gill Duggan, Occupational Therapist, Burrowes Unit, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Jean Southey and the Lived Experience Advisory Forum Dementia Theme, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research and Development Department

Celia Stamper, Masters in Clinical Research Student.

PARO, as himself.

Output

Read the PARO CV (pdf) for more information on what he has achieved and links to press coverage

Internal PARO newsletter to aid with dissemination of work in practice.

Watch a video about PARO and its use with dementia patients

Listen to an interview on Radio 4 You and Yours - scroll along to 21:50

Watch the coverage on BBC online

Listen to an interview on Radio 4 You and Yours - scroll along to 27.00

Read the article in The Argus
 

Partners

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Clinical Site

Professor Takanori Shibata, (Inventor of PARO) National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan

Patient Public Engagement - The Lived Experience Advisory Forum (Dementia) with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research and Development Group 

Ian Cooper & Alison Willows, School of Biology and Pharmacy , University of Brighton

Professor Jenny Rusted, Sussex University

Age UK. SouthEast London, Elephant and Castle  

Sheffield Mental Health Trust