Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36959683›Full record

ArticleResearch involvement and engagement2023

Using telepresence robots as a tool to engage patient and family partners in dementia research during COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative participatory study.

Lillian Hung, Charlie Lake, Ali Hussein, Joey Wong, Jim Mann

Open access · goldFull text read
In one paragraph

Article in Research involvement and engagement, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
3.8field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Involving People With Dementia in Research: Contributions, Barriers and Evaluation From a Meta-Synthesis and Qualitative Interview Study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
    Article
  2. Public and participant involvement as a pathway to inclusive dementia research.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Lillian HungSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
Charlie LakeSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada. c.lake@alumni.ubc.ca.
Ali HusseinSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
Joey WongSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
Jim MannSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
University of British Columbia · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLong-term care (LTC) settings have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; it is important to address unmet needs and explore practical strategies for supporting LTC residents and staff. The involvement of patient partners and family community members in research planning, implementation and evaluation is the basis of Patient and Public Involvement approach and has been challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic, as visitation restrictions have created barriers to conducting research in healthcare settings. Innovative methods and tools are needed for conducting participatory research. This study investigated the use of telepresence as innovative tools for participatory research based on three projects conducted with patient and family partners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

methodsThe data source includes (a) team reflective discussions, (b) weekly meeting notes, (c) field notes, and (d) interviews with ten researchers. We applied purposive sampling to select ten researchers who used a telepresence robot to conduct research in British Columbia, Canada. Semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted via Zoom virtual meetings. Patient and family partners contributed to team analysis to identify themes.

resultsAnalysis of the data produced five themes: (1) Research Enabler, (2) User-Friendly Technology, (3) Increased Engagement, (4) Lack of Infrastructure and Resources, and (5) Training and Technical Obstacles. Based on the results, we propose "ROBOT"-an acronym for five actionable recommendations to support the use of telepresence robots for research. The ROBOT recommendations represent: Realign to adapt, Organize with champions, Blend strategies, Offer timely technical assistance, and Tailor training to individual needs.

conclusionsThis study offers practical insights into the use of telepresence robots as a safe and innovative tool for conducting remote research with people with dementia, even in times of restricted access, as with COVID-19. Future research should apply more creativity and flexibility in adopting technology to expand possibilities for involving people with dementia in research.

Indexed as

COVID-19Long-term carePatient and public involvementTelepresence robotsVirtual research

Identifiers

PMID36959683
PMCPMC10035490
OpenAlexW4360610279

What OpenQuestion holds

Textfull text, public
LicenceCC BY
measurements read9
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.