Behavioral Responses of Nursing Home Residents to Visits From a Person with a Dog,a Robot Seal or aToy Cat

Previous studies suggest that contact with dogs can positively affect the wellbeing of elderly people in nursing homes, but there is a lack of research investigating the causal pathways of these effects. One such path- way may relate to the behavioral responses of the elderly when interacting with a dog. The present study compared the immediate behavioral responses of nursing home residents to bi-weekly visits from a person accompanied by either a dog, a robot seal (PARO®), or a soft toy cat, using a randomized controlled design. A total of 100 nursing home residents com- pleted the study. Each participant received a total of 12 visits, during which their behaviors, including interactions between the visitor and the accom- panying animal (real or artificial), were recorded. Also, data on cognitive im- pairment, presence of depressive symptoms, age, time lived in the nursing home, dementia diagnoses, and gender were collected. We found that the immediate responses to, and interaction with, the visiting animal depended on the type of animal that was brought along. The dog and the interactive robot seal triggered the most interaction, in the form of physical contact (F(2,103) = 7.50, p < 0.001), eye contact (F(4,151) = 6.26, p < 0.001), and verbal communication (F(4,195) = 2.87, p < 0.05). As well, the cognitive impairment level of the residents affected with whom they interacted. The higher the cognitive impairment level, the more interaction was directed toward the animal and less toward humans, regardless of visit type (F(2,101) = 4.10, p < 0.05). The dogs and the robot seal stimulated the residents to more in- teraction, compared with the toy cat, but the robot seal failed to maintain the attention at the same level over time. The cognitive functioning of the residents correlated with the level of interaction, and this needs to be studied further.     

Oxytocin receptor is not required for social attachment in prairie voles

1. Download : Download high-res image (159KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

公立医院分级护理标准探索与研究

目的 探索一种基于病情和自理能力的病人分级护理标准。方法 调查2015年5—12月江苏省某三级教学医院内科、外科共10个普通成人病房的住院病人，采用Barthel指数评定量表和急性生理功能和慢性健康状况评估系统Ⅱ（APACHEⅡ）评价病人自理能力及疾病严重程度，采用自行设计的直接护理工时测量表记录病人24 h所需直接护理时间，根据不同病情及自理能力病人24 h直接护理时间的不同进行护理等级的划分。结果 共调查病人570例，有效问卷551份（96.67%），不同疾病严重度和病人自理能力病人24 h所需直接护理时间不同，共形成4个新的护理等级。结论 以Barthel指数评定量表和急性生理功能和慢性健康状况评估系统Ⅱ（APACHEⅡ）作为分级护理标准，依据不同病情、自理能力病人所需直接护理时间的差异可将病人划分等级，新的分级方法较原有护理等级划分方法更加客观、方便，有利于满足病人需求，指导人力资源配备和成本核算。