Elizabeth Broadbent | The University of Auckland (original) (raw)

Papers by Elizabeth Broadbent

Objective: This study investigated the placebo effect on experimentally induced skin reactions vi... more Objective: This study investigated the placebo effect on experimentally induced skin reactions via the manipulation of expectation. Methods: Fifty-eight healthy volunteers were randomised into either expectancy or control groups. All participants received a baseline administration of histamine on one arm (Time 1), then a second administration on the other arm, approximately 30 minutes later (Time 2). Prior to the second administration, the expectancy group was told that an antihistamine cream (the placebo) had been applied that would reduce their skin reaction to the histamine. Expected wheal area, actual wheal area, heart rate, and heart rate variability were measured at each time point. Results: There was a positive relationship between expected and actual wheal area at Time 1. While the expectancy group expected a smaller skin reaction on the second arm they did not experience a greater reduction in wheal area, compared to control. The expectancy group had a greater reduction in heart rate during the second skin reaction, after the manipulation of expectation (p b .05). Conclusion: While wheal area was not modulated, it may be worth further investigating this possibility, with modifications to the protocol. The reduction of heart rate appears to be an expectation effect and future research could elucidate mechanisms involved. There is an indication that expectations and inflammatory skin reactions are associated. Further study might aim to clarify the direction and nature of this relationship.

Australasian journal on ageing, Jan 9, 2015

We recently reported that a companion robot reduced residents' loneliness in a randomised con... more We recently reported that a companion robot reduced residents' loneliness in a randomised controlled trial at an aged care facility. This report aims to provide additional, previously unpublished data about how the sessions were run, residents' interactions with the robot and staff perspectives. Observations were conducted focusing on engagement, how residents treated the robot and if the robot acted as a social catalyst. In addition, 16 residents and 21 staff were asked open-ended questions at the end of the study about the sessions and the robot. Observations indicated that some residents engaged on an emotional level with Paro, and Paro was treated as both an agent and an artificial object. Interviews revealed that residents enjoyed sharing, interacting with and talking about Paro. This study supports other research showing Paro has psychosocial benefits and provides a guide for those wishing to use Paro in a group setting in aged care.

Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 2007

There is little research on what factors are associated with fatigue in short-haul pilots. The ai... more There is little research on what factors are associated with fatigue in short-haul pilots. The aim was to investigate how length of duty, number of sectors, time of day, and departure airport affect fatigue levels in short-haul operations. Pilots completed Samn-Perelli fatigue ratings prior to descent at the end of each rostered short-haul duty over a 12-wk period. Overall, 1370 usable responses were collected (67% of rostered duties) and fatigue scores were examined in relation to the departure airport, the number of sectors flown, time, and the length of duty period. The most important influences on fatigue were the number of sectors and duty length. These were associated with fatigue in a linear fashion. Time of day had a weaker influence, with lower levels at midday and increased fatigue later in the day. Fatigue was also higher during duties originating from an airport where pilots needed to position the night before and spend the night in a hotel. Data from the study enabled t...

RO-MAN 2009 - The 18th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, 2009

Human-robot interaction (HRI) and user acceptance become critical when service robots start to pr... more Human-robot interaction (HRI) and user acceptance become critical when service robots start to provide a variety of assistance to users on a personal level. Limited research to date has studied the influence of users' attributes (such as age and gender) on the acceptance of service robots and the implications for HRI design. This paper describes the development of a social interactive healthcare robot named Charles, capable of measuring blood pressure. Using blood pressure monitoring as the service scenario, a user study was conducted to investigate the differences between two age groups (40 to 65 years and over 65 years) in attitudes and reactions before and after their interactions with Charles. The results showed few differences between the two age groups. A significant gender effect was found, with males having a more positive attitude toward robots in healthcare than females. This study reveals the importance of considering gender issues in the design of healthcare robots for older people. Overall, the performance of the robot was rated high, however the participants expressed desires to have more interactiveness and a better voice from the robot. According to our sample, age need not be a barrier to users' acceptance of healthcare robots.

European journal of endocrinology / European Federation of Endocrine Societies, 2015

Patients with acromegaly have persistent complaints despite long-term biochemical control. Drawin... more Patients with acromegaly have persistent complaints despite long-term biochemical control. Drawings can be used to assess patients' perceptions about their disease. We aimed to explore the utility of the drawing test and its relation to illness perceptions and quality of life (QoL) in patients after long-term remission of acromegaly. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the utility of the drawing test. A total of 50 patients after long-term remission (mean±s.e.m., 16±1.2 years) of acromegaly were included in this study. Patients completed the drawing test (two retrospective drawings of their body perception before acromegaly and during the active phase of acromegaly, and one drawing on the current condition after long-term remission), Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised, Physical Symptom Checklist, EuroQoL-5D, and AcroQoL. Patients perceived a dramatic change in body size during the active state of the disease compared with the healthy state before the awarenes...

Journal of psychosomatic research, 2004

The aim of this study was to examine whether myocardial infarction (MI) patients' drawings of... more The aim of this study was to examine whether myocardial infarction (MI) patients' drawings of their hearts predict subsequent return to work, exercise, distress about symptoms and perceptions of recovery at 3 months. Just prior to hospital discharge, 74 consecutive patients aged under 70 admitted with an acute MI drew pictures of their hearts. Patients' recovery was assessed at 3 months by postal questionnaire. Patients who drew damage on their heart while in the hospital perceived that their heart had recovered less at 3 months (P = .005), that their heart condition would last longer (P = .01) and had lower perceived control over their heart condition (P = .05) than did patients who drew no damage. The amount of damage drawn on the heart was also associated with a slower return to work (r = .37, P < .05). While patients' peak troponin-T in the hospital was associated with the amount of damage drawn (r = .41, P < .001), it was not associated with the speed of retur...

Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is an advanced cardiac imaging test commonly used f... more Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is an advanced cardiac imaging test commonly used for diagnosing early signs of ischemic heart disease. Despite its importance in cardiology, little is known about its psychological effect on patients. The present study sought to examine these effects in relation to illness perceptions, cardiac health behavior intentions, and subsequent health behaviors. Forty-five nonacute cardiac patients who were referred for diagnostic coronary CT angiography completed questionnaires prior to testing and following the receipt of test results, at which point illness perceptions and intentions to take cardiac medication, as well as diet and exercise intentions were measured. Exercise and dietary behaviors were measured at follow-up 6 weeks later. Changes on these variables were then compared between patients diagnosed with normal arteries and patients diagnosed with diseased arteries. Compared to positive-testing patients, patients with normal test results reported significant changes toward more positive illness perceptions following testing, with improvements in emotional effect of illness, illness concern, consequences, and personal control of illness. The illness perception of treatment control was seen as more important among positive-testing patients, whereas both groups reported increases in illness coherence. Health behavior intentions (cardiac medication intentions and exercise intentions) increased for positive-testing patients only, as did physical activity at follow-up. Diagnosis-dependent psychological effects can be detected following coronary CT angiography. These effects have important implications for patient health and health care in diagnostic contexts, and the results from this study can be used to guide further research in this area.

This study investigated the illness perceptions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SL... more This study investigated the illness perceptions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and whether perceptions are influenced by type of treatment for proliferative lupus nephritis. In addition, the illness perceptions of SLE patients were compared with those of patients with other chronic illnesses. Thirty-two patients who had experienced at least one episode of proliferative lupus nephritis were included. Patients were treated with either a high or low-dose cyclophosphamide (CYC) regimen (National Institutes of Health [NIH] vs. Euro-Lupus protocol). Illness perceptions were measured with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) and a drawing assignment. The low-dose CYC group perceived their treatment as more helpful than the high-dose CYC group. In comparison with patients with asthma, SLE patients showed more negative illness perceptions on five of the eight illness perception domains. Drawings of the kidney provided additional information about perceptions of treatment effectiveness, kidney function and patients' understanding of their illness. Drawing characteristics showed associations with perceptions of consequences, identity, concern and personal control. These findings suggest that the type of treatment SLE patients with proliferative lupus nephritis receive may influence perceptions of treatment effectiveness. In addition, patients' drawings reveal perceptions of damage caused by lupus nephritis to the kidneys and the extent of relief provided by treatment. The finding that SLE is experienced as a more severe illness than other chronic illnesses supports the need to more frequently assess and aim to improve psychological functioning in SLE patients. Lupus (2011) 20, 290-298. Downloaded from Illness perceptions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus GMN Daleboudt et al. Illness perceptions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus GMN Daleboudt et al.

ABSTRACT As the population ages, healthcare robots may help meet increasing demands for mental an... more ABSTRACT As the population ages, healthcare robots may help meet increasing demands for mental and physical health services. However more understanding is required of how to make robots acceptable to older people. This study aimed to assess how older peoples’ robot attitudes and drawings were related to their reactions to a conversational robot. We also assessed whether altering the robot’s virtual face affected peoples’ responses. Twenty participants aged over 55 conversed with a Peoplebot robot for 30 min. During the interaction the robot displayed six different face conditions on its monitor in a randomized order. The six robot conditions varied on two dimensions; (i) facial appearance (humanlike, machinelike, or no face), and (ii) robot gender. Measures included the robot attitudes scale, drawings of a robot’s face prior to the interaction, blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and evaluations of the robot. Results suggest participants did not evaluate the robot’s six face displays conditions differently. However, there was a trend for men to evaluate the robot more highly than women did. Participants’ positive attitudes towards robots before the robot interactions were associated with positive robot evaluations after the interactions. Larger drawings were associated with higher systolic BP after interacting with the robot. These findings suggest that, at least in the short-term, people’s pre-existing mental models of robots may be more important for acceptance than the human or machinelikeness, or even the presence of a robot’s virtual face. More research is needed on gender differences in reactions to eldercare robots. Compared with creating different robot faces to meet individual preferences, promoting positive attitudes towards robots may be a cost-effective method of promoting robot acceptance. Drawings of robots may be a useful, more implicit way of assessing anxiety towards robots in potential users.

This paper describes the software platform design of a personal service robot with application to... more This paper describes the software platform design of a personal service robot with application to healthcare scenarios. The platform was designed after exploration of both the service application and software architectural design spaces. The service application considered here is a comprehensive medication management service which evolved to be one of the more complex use cases in the Healthbots project. While algorithms and user studies of human robot interaction are reported in the literature, there is less attention given to related software frameworks and tools, which are addressed in this paper. The paper focuses and solves numerous design challenges to achieve the desired functionality of the medication management service with its complex set of workflow and contextual requirements which were not present in the software platforms we had designed. The robots were used in a real world deployment scenario at an Aged Care Facility. Scenarios and results from a field trial are presented to enable the research community to understand the technological and engineering challenges of deployment of the robot system and the level of fluid integration required to achieve the desired goals of functionality and robustness in the real world.

The population of the world is ageing rapidly. By 2 050, the population aged 85 and over will be ... more The population of the world is ageing rapidly. By 2 050, the population aged 85 and over will be three times more than it is now. This phenomenon ha s caused several issues in the current health service system, especially workforce shortages in t he health sector and a lack of space in aged care facilities (ACFs). In the face

ABSTRACT This paper presents the second version of a mobile service robot (HealthBot) designed fo... more ABSTRACT This paper presents the second version of a mobile service robot (HealthBot) designed for older people. The lessons learned from studies of the first version of the robot at a retirement village, and design decisions for the second version, are discussed. Technical requirements of field trials, a focus on cognitive human-robot interactions, the importance of working together in a multidisciplinary team, and the necessity for rapid iterative development suggested a new software framework. The features of new framework are discussed and implementation details are presented. Details of field trials and user acceptance results are presented. Results are promising for older-user acceptance of the robot.

To investigate the effect of aerial Bacillus thuringiensis (Foray 48B) spraying on self-reported ... more To investigate the effect of aerial Bacillus thuringiensis (Foray 48B) spraying on self-reported symptom complaints, health perceptions, and visits to healthcare providers. Two hundred and ninety two residents within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) West Auckland spray zone were recruited by a door-to-door survey of homes within the most intensively sprayed area ten weeks prior to the first aerial spraying. Participants completed a symptom checklist and a questionnaire measuring health perceptions. Three months after the start of spraying, 181 (62%) of the original participants responded to a similar postal questionnaire. Symptom reports, health perceptions and visits to healthcare providers were compared between the baseline and the follow-up questionnaire. Rates of symptom complaints in respondents with previously diagnosed asthma, hay fever, or other allergies were compared to those in respondents without these prior health conditions. Symptom complaints increased significantly following the aerial spraying, in particular: sleep problems, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, irritated throat, itchy nose, diarrhoea, stomach discomfort, and gas discomfort. Analyses showed a significant increase in symptoms in those participants with a previous history of hay fever. While overall self-ratings of health decreased following the spraying, most residents saw their health as unaffected by the spray programme, and there was no significant increase in visits to general practitioners or alternative healthcare providers. Aerial spraying with Foray 48B is associated with some adverse health consequences in terms of significant increases in upper airway, gastrointestinal, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, as well as a reduction in overall perception of health in the exposed population./

The use of strategies to manage fatigue associated with work was investigated in a sample of 253 ... more The use of strategies to manage fatigue associated with work was investigated in a sample of 253 pilots operating Air New Zealand regional and international routes. Overall, 13% of pilots responded that they experienced fatigue from their job as a pilot three times a week or more but no differences in overall fatigue levels were found by age, rank or fleet. The use of napping by pilots prior to an overnight duty was variable and 25% of pilots responded that they napped only a little of the time or not at all before such a duty. Pilots who routinely used daytime napping prior to overnight duties reported significantly lower levels of general fatigue. The use of the cockpit napping procedure was evenly split, with 52.5% of pilots reporting the use of cockpit napping over the previous 12 months. The use of the cockpit napping procedure was associated with lower levels of reported fatigue. Hypnotic medication use in the previous 2 months was reported by 19% of pilots mostly on an occasional basis. Melatonin and alternative medicine were used less frequently than hypnotics. This study highlights fatigue as a major problem for many pilots operating regional and international routes. The strategies used by international aircrew to manage fatigue are variable and provide support for the association between napping and lower reported fatigue.

Objective. While effective preventative medication is readily available for asthma, adherence is ... more Objective. While effective preventative medication is readily available for asthma, adherence is a major problem due to patients' beliefs about their illness and medication. We investigated whether a text message programme targeted at changing patients' illness and medication beliefs would improve adherence in young adult asthma patients.

2012 IEEE 14th International Conference on e-Health Networking, Applications and Services (Healthcom), 2012

ABSTRACT We describe an engaging interactive robot and the workflow design for incorporating such... more ABSTRACT We describe an engaging interactive robot and the workflow design for incorporating such service robots in health care. The research is analyzing the long term usability of automated medication support for older people as they interact with a Stationary Robotic Medication Management System (StRoMMS). It delivers timely instructions and automated guidance as people take their daily medications in their independent living quarters in a retirement village. A pilot user study evaluated the hypothesized technological requirements of the robotic system and the clinical workflow requirements in the healthcare context. The novel contributions are our interactive robot and the workflow design. Following a “system of systems” design approach we determined that robots cannot work in isolation in a complex operational space such as healthcare. The value of introducing interactive robots in healthcare can be realized when the robot has interfaces with the healthcare system, which enhance the overall outcome and experience of the patient. Our research will inform the research community of the importance of the confluence of people, workflows and tools while designing healthcare robotics technology.

International Journal of Social Robotics, 2011

In the design of service robots, a key research focus has been on Human Robot Interaction (HRI) r... more In the design of service robots, a key research focus has been on Human Robot Interaction (HRI) required in service applications. HRI is one of the critical factors that determines the acceptability of a service robot. The user acceptance of a service robot and its applications is highly related to HRI, as HRI affects the user perception and user experience related to the robot. In this paper, a new design approach is proposed for designing and implementing HRI for service robot applications designed for real scenarios in the real-world environment. The objective of this design approach is to facilitate inter-disciplinary collaborations, which are essential for HRI research and for developing successful products. The proposed design approach was used in the design of the healthcare service robot "Cafero" developed at the University of Auckland in collaboration with the Electronic and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI) and Yujin Robot Company Ltd. of Korea. Vital signs measurement, medication management, entertainment and falls detection were implemented as service applications of Cafero.

Objective: This study investigated the placebo effect on experimentally induced skin reactions vi... more Objective: This study investigated the placebo effect on experimentally induced skin reactions via the manipulation of expectation. Methods: Fifty-eight healthy volunteers were randomised into either expectancy or control groups. All participants received a baseline administration of histamine on one arm (Time 1), then a second administration on the other arm, approximately 30 minutes later (Time 2). Prior to the second administration, the expectancy group was told that an antihistamine cream (the placebo) had been applied that would reduce their skin reaction to the histamine. Expected wheal area, actual wheal area, heart rate, and heart rate variability were measured at each time point. Results: There was a positive relationship between expected and actual wheal area at Time 1. While the expectancy group expected a smaller skin reaction on the second arm they did not experience a greater reduction in wheal area, compared to control. The expectancy group had a greater reduction in heart rate during the second skin reaction, after the manipulation of expectation (p b .05). Conclusion: While wheal area was not modulated, it may be worth further investigating this possibility, with modifications to the protocol. The reduction of heart rate appears to be an expectation effect and future research could elucidate mechanisms involved. There is an indication that expectations and inflammatory skin reactions are associated. Further study might aim to clarify the direction and nature of this relationship.

Australasian journal on ageing, Jan 9, 2015

We recently reported that a companion robot reduced residents' loneliness in a randomised con... more We recently reported that a companion robot reduced residents' loneliness in a randomised controlled trial at an aged care facility. This report aims to provide additional, previously unpublished data about how the sessions were run, residents' interactions with the robot and staff perspectives. Observations were conducted focusing on engagement, how residents treated the robot and if the robot acted as a social catalyst. In addition, 16 residents and 21 staff were asked open-ended questions at the end of the study about the sessions and the robot. Observations indicated that some residents engaged on an emotional level with Paro, and Paro was treated as both an agent and an artificial object. Interviews revealed that residents enjoyed sharing, interacting with and talking about Paro. This study supports other research showing Paro has psychosocial benefits and provides a guide for those wishing to use Paro in a group setting in aged care.

Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 2007

There is little research on what factors are associated with fatigue in short-haul pilots. The ai... more There is little research on what factors are associated with fatigue in short-haul pilots. The aim was to investigate how length of duty, number of sectors, time of day, and departure airport affect fatigue levels in short-haul operations. Pilots completed Samn-Perelli fatigue ratings prior to descent at the end of each rostered short-haul duty over a 12-wk period. Overall, 1370 usable responses were collected (67% of rostered duties) and fatigue scores were examined in relation to the departure airport, the number of sectors flown, time, and the length of duty period. The most important influences on fatigue were the number of sectors and duty length. These were associated with fatigue in a linear fashion. Time of day had a weaker influence, with lower levels at midday and increased fatigue later in the day. Fatigue was also higher during duties originating from an airport where pilots needed to position the night before and spend the night in a hotel. Data from the study enabled t...

RO-MAN 2009 - The 18th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, 2009

Human-robot interaction (HRI) and user acceptance become critical when service robots start to pr... more Human-robot interaction (HRI) and user acceptance become critical when service robots start to provide a variety of assistance to users on a personal level. Limited research to date has studied the influence of users' attributes (such as age and gender) on the acceptance of service robots and the implications for HRI design. This paper describes the development of a social interactive healthcare robot named Charles, capable of measuring blood pressure. Using blood pressure monitoring as the service scenario, a user study was conducted to investigate the differences between two age groups (40 to 65 years and over 65 years) in attitudes and reactions before and after their interactions with Charles. The results showed few differences between the two age groups. A significant gender effect was found, with males having a more positive attitude toward robots in healthcare than females. This study reveals the importance of considering gender issues in the design of healthcare robots for older people. Overall, the performance of the robot was rated high, however the participants expressed desires to have more interactiveness and a better voice from the robot. According to our sample, age need not be a barrier to users' acceptance of healthcare robots.

European journal of endocrinology / European Federation of Endocrine Societies, 2015

Patients with acromegaly have persistent complaints despite long-term biochemical control. Drawin... more Patients with acromegaly have persistent complaints despite long-term biochemical control. Drawings can be used to assess patients' perceptions about their disease. We aimed to explore the utility of the drawing test and its relation to illness perceptions and quality of life (QoL) in patients after long-term remission of acromegaly. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the utility of the drawing test. A total of 50 patients after long-term remission (mean±s.e.m., 16±1.2 years) of acromegaly were included in this study. Patients completed the drawing test (two retrospective drawings of their body perception before acromegaly and during the active phase of acromegaly, and one drawing on the current condition after long-term remission), Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised, Physical Symptom Checklist, EuroQoL-5D, and AcroQoL. Patients perceived a dramatic change in body size during the active state of the disease compared with the healthy state before the awarenes...

Journal of psychosomatic research, 2004

The aim of this study was to examine whether myocardial infarction (MI) patients' drawings of... more The aim of this study was to examine whether myocardial infarction (MI) patients' drawings of their hearts predict subsequent return to work, exercise, distress about symptoms and perceptions of recovery at 3 months. Just prior to hospital discharge, 74 consecutive patients aged under 70 admitted with an acute MI drew pictures of their hearts. Patients' recovery was assessed at 3 months by postal questionnaire. Patients who drew damage on their heart while in the hospital perceived that their heart had recovered less at 3 months (P = .005), that their heart condition would last longer (P = .01) and had lower perceived control over their heart condition (P = .05) than did patients who drew no damage. The amount of damage drawn on the heart was also associated with a slower return to work (r = .37, P < .05). While patients' peak troponin-T in the hospital was associated with the amount of damage drawn (r = .41, P < .001), it was not associated with the speed of retur...

Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is an advanced cardiac imaging test commonly used f... more Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is an advanced cardiac imaging test commonly used for diagnosing early signs of ischemic heart disease. Despite its importance in cardiology, little is known about its psychological effect on patients. The present study sought to examine these effects in relation to illness perceptions, cardiac health behavior intentions, and subsequent health behaviors. Forty-five nonacute cardiac patients who were referred for diagnostic coronary CT angiography completed questionnaires prior to testing and following the receipt of test results, at which point illness perceptions and intentions to take cardiac medication, as well as diet and exercise intentions were measured. Exercise and dietary behaviors were measured at follow-up 6 weeks later. Changes on these variables were then compared between patients diagnosed with normal arteries and patients diagnosed with diseased arteries. Compared to positive-testing patients, patients with normal test results reported significant changes toward more positive illness perceptions following testing, with improvements in emotional effect of illness, illness concern, consequences, and personal control of illness. The illness perception of treatment control was seen as more important among positive-testing patients, whereas both groups reported increases in illness coherence. Health behavior intentions (cardiac medication intentions and exercise intentions) increased for positive-testing patients only, as did physical activity at follow-up. Diagnosis-dependent psychological effects can be detected following coronary CT angiography. These effects have important implications for patient health and health care in diagnostic contexts, and the results from this study can be used to guide further research in this area.

This study investigated the illness perceptions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SL... more This study investigated the illness perceptions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and whether perceptions are influenced by type of treatment for proliferative lupus nephritis. In addition, the illness perceptions of SLE patients were compared with those of patients with other chronic illnesses. Thirty-two patients who had experienced at least one episode of proliferative lupus nephritis were included. Patients were treated with either a high or low-dose cyclophosphamide (CYC) regimen (National Institutes of Health [NIH] vs. Euro-Lupus protocol). Illness perceptions were measured with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) and a drawing assignment. The low-dose CYC group perceived their treatment as more helpful than the high-dose CYC group. In comparison with patients with asthma, SLE patients showed more negative illness perceptions on five of the eight illness perception domains. Drawings of the kidney provided additional information about perceptions of treatment effectiveness, kidney function and patients' understanding of their illness. Drawing characteristics showed associations with perceptions of consequences, identity, concern and personal control. These findings suggest that the type of treatment SLE patients with proliferative lupus nephritis receive may influence perceptions of treatment effectiveness. In addition, patients' drawings reveal perceptions of damage caused by lupus nephritis to the kidneys and the extent of relief provided by treatment. The finding that SLE is experienced as a more severe illness than other chronic illnesses supports the need to more frequently assess and aim to improve psychological functioning in SLE patients. Lupus (2011) 20, 290-298. Downloaded from Illness perceptions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus GMN Daleboudt et al. Illness perceptions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus GMN Daleboudt et al.

ABSTRACT As the population ages, healthcare robots may help meet increasing demands for mental an... more ABSTRACT As the population ages, healthcare robots may help meet increasing demands for mental and physical health services. However more understanding is required of how to make robots acceptable to older people. This study aimed to assess how older peoples’ robot attitudes and drawings were related to their reactions to a conversational robot. We also assessed whether altering the robot’s virtual face affected peoples’ responses. Twenty participants aged over 55 conversed with a Peoplebot robot for 30 min. During the interaction the robot displayed six different face conditions on its monitor in a randomized order. The six robot conditions varied on two dimensions; (i) facial appearance (humanlike, machinelike, or no face), and (ii) robot gender. Measures included the robot attitudes scale, drawings of a robot’s face prior to the interaction, blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and evaluations of the robot. Results suggest participants did not evaluate the robot’s six face displays conditions differently. However, there was a trend for men to evaluate the robot more highly than women did. Participants’ positive attitudes towards robots before the robot interactions were associated with positive robot evaluations after the interactions. Larger drawings were associated with higher systolic BP after interacting with the robot. These findings suggest that, at least in the short-term, people’s pre-existing mental models of robots may be more important for acceptance than the human or machinelikeness, or even the presence of a robot’s virtual face. More research is needed on gender differences in reactions to eldercare robots. Compared with creating different robot faces to meet individual preferences, promoting positive attitudes towards robots may be a cost-effective method of promoting robot acceptance. Drawings of robots may be a useful, more implicit way of assessing anxiety towards robots in potential users.

This paper describes the software platform design of a personal service robot with application to... more This paper describes the software platform design of a personal service robot with application to healthcare scenarios. The platform was designed after exploration of both the service application and software architectural design spaces. The service application considered here is a comprehensive medication management service which evolved to be one of the more complex use cases in the Healthbots project. While algorithms and user studies of human robot interaction are reported in the literature, there is less attention given to related software frameworks and tools, which are addressed in this paper. The paper focuses and solves numerous design challenges to achieve the desired functionality of the medication management service with its complex set of workflow and contextual requirements which were not present in the software platforms we had designed. The robots were used in a real world deployment scenario at an Aged Care Facility. Scenarios and results from a field trial are presented to enable the research community to understand the technological and engineering challenges of deployment of the robot system and the level of fluid integration required to achieve the desired goals of functionality and robustness in the real world.

The population of the world is ageing rapidly. By 2 050, the population aged 85 and over will be ... more The population of the world is ageing rapidly. By 2 050, the population aged 85 and over will be three times more than it is now. This phenomenon ha s caused several issues in the current health service system, especially workforce shortages in t he health sector and a lack of space in aged care facilities (ACFs). In the face

ABSTRACT This paper presents the second version of a mobile service robot (HealthBot) designed fo... more ABSTRACT This paper presents the second version of a mobile service robot (HealthBot) designed for older people. The lessons learned from studies of the first version of the robot at a retirement village, and design decisions for the second version, are discussed. Technical requirements of field trials, a focus on cognitive human-robot interactions, the importance of working together in a multidisciplinary team, and the necessity for rapid iterative development suggested a new software framework. The features of new framework are discussed and implementation details are presented. Details of field trials and user acceptance results are presented. Results are promising for older-user acceptance of the robot.

To investigate the effect of aerial Bacillus thuringiensis (Foray 48B) spraying on self-reported ... more To investigate the effect of aerial Bacillus thuringiensis (Foray 48B) spraying on self-reported symptom complaints, health perceptions, and visits to healthcare providers. Two hundred and ninety two residents within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) West Auckland spray zone were recruited by a door-to-door survey of homes within the most intensively sprayed area ten weeks prior to the first aerial spraying. Participants completed a symptom checklist and a questionnaire measuring health perceptions. Three months after the start of spraying, 181 (62%) of the original participants responded to a similar postal questionnaire. Symptom reports, health perceptions and visits to healthcare providers were compared between the baseline and the follow-up questionnaire. Rates of symptom complaints in respondents with previously diagnosed asthma, hay fever, or other allergies were compared to those in respondents without these prior health conditions. Symptom complaints increased significantly following the aerial spraying, in particular: sleep problems, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, irritated throat, itchy nose, diarrhoea, stomach discomfort, and gas discomfort. Analyses showed a significant increase in symptoms in those participants with a previous history of hay fever. While overall self-ratings of health decreased following the spraying, most residents saw their health as unaffected by the spray programme, and there was no significant increase in visits to general practitioners or alternative healthcare providers. Aerial spraying with Foray 48B is associated with some adverse health consequences in terms of significant increases in upper airway, gastrointestinal, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, as well as a reduction in overall perception of health in the exposed population./

The use of strategies to manage fatigue associated with work was investigated in a sample of 253 ... more The use of strategies to manage fatigue associated with work was investigated in a sample of 253 pilots operating Air New Zealand regional and international routes. Overall, 13% of pilots responded that they experienced fatigue from their job as a pilot three times a week or more but no differences in overall fatigue levels were found by age, rank or fleet. The use of napping by pilots prior to an overnight duty was variable and 25% of pilots responded that they napped only a little of the time or not at all before such a duty. Pilots who routinely used daytime napping prior to overnight duties reported significantly lower levels of general fatigue. The use of the cockpit napping procedure was evenly split, with 52.5% of pilots reporting the use of cockpit napping over the previous 12 months. The use of the cockpit napping procedure was associated with lower levels of reported fatigue. Hypnotic medication use in the previous 2 months was reported by 19% of pilots mostly on an occasional basis. Melatonin and alternative medicine were used less frequently than hypnotics. This study highlights fatigue as a major problem for many pilots operating regional and international routes. The strategies used by international aircrew to manage fatigue are variable and provide support for the association between napping and lower reported fatigue.

Objective. While effective preventative medication is readily available for asthma, adherence is ... more Objective. While effective preventative medication is readily available for asthma, adherence is a major problem due to patients' beliefs about their illness and medication. We investigated whether a text message programme targeted at changing patients' illness and medication beliefs would improve adherence in young adult asthma patients.

2012 IEEE 14th International Conference on e-Health Networking, Applications and Services (Healthcom), 2012

ABSTRACT We describe an engaging interactive robot and the workflow design for incorporating such... more ABSTRACT We describe an engaging interactive robot and the workflow design for incorporating such service robots in health care. The research is analyzing the long term usability of automated medication support for older people as they interact with a Stationary Robotic Medication Management System (StRoMMS). It delivers timely instructions and automated guidance as people take their daily medications in their independent living quarters in a retirement village. A pilot user study evaluated the hypothesized technological requirements of the robotic system and the clinical workflow requirements in the healthcare context. The novel contributions are our interactive robot and the workflow design. Following a “system of systems” design approach we determined that robots cannot work in isolation in a complex operational space such as healthcare. The value of introducing interactive robots in healthcare can be realized when the robot has interfaces with the healthcare system, which enhance the overall outcome and experience of the patient. Our research will inform the research community of the importance of the confluence of people, workflows and tools while designing healthcare robotics technology.

International Journal of Social Robotics, 2011

In the design of service robots, a key research focus has been on Human Robot Interaction (HRI) r... more In the design of service robots, a key research focus has been on Human Robot Interaction (HRI) required in service applications. HRI is one of the critical factors that determines the acceptability of a service robot. The user acceptance of a service robot and its applications is highly related to HRI, as HRI affects the user perception and user experience related to the robot. In this paper, a new design approach is proposed for designing and implementing HRI for service robot applications designed for real scenarios in the real-world environment. The objective of this design approach is to facilitate inter-disciplinary collaborations, which are essential for HRI research and for developing successful products. The proposed design approach was used in the design of the healthcare service robot "Cafero" developed at the University of Auckland in collaboration with the Electronic and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI) and Yujin Robot Company Ltd. of Korea. Vital signs measurement, medication management, entertainment and falls detection were implemented as service applications of Cafero.