Increasing Physical Activity with a Social Robot-assisted Exercise Intervention in Older Adults with Hearing Loss: a Feasibility and Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives To assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a home-based, social robot-assisted intervention (SRAI) for older adults with hearing loss (HL), and to examine the preliminary effects of SRAI on improving physical activity, loneliness, communication, and health-related quality of life in this population.

Hypothesis to be tested SRAI is feasible for implementation at home and acceptable to participants. Upon completing the 10-week intervention and the 1-month follow-up, the intervention group (IG) will report significantly greater improvements in measured outcomes. These findings will support subsequent investigations in a larger-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Design and subjects A two-arm, single-blinded, pilot RCT with individual semi-structured interviews. Chinese adults aged 65 years or older, with mild-to-moderate HL with a pure-tone average of 20-50 dB across octave frequencies 0.5 to 4kHz in both ears.

Study instruments This study will feature a 2 kg, 30 cm tall and 20 cm wide, Cantonese-speaking humanoid social robot named KaKa.

Interventions Each IG participant will receive SRAI at home for 10 weeks. This will include auditory rehabilitation and 60 min/day, 3 days/week of varied multicomponent physical activity following the World Health Organization's evidence-based recommendations. The control group will engage in physical activity at the same intensity level and frequency as the IG without a robot.

Main outcome measures Physical activity levels.

Data analysis Descriptive statistics, an independent sample t-test or chi square test, generalized estimating equation and thematic analysis will be used.

Expected results Participants could benefit from incorporating tailored intervention for physical activity with auditory rehabilitation.