Reducing Loneliness of Older Adults in Long Term Care Facilities Through Collaborative Augmented Realities

NCT06179225 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: 078480R21AG078480
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the use of head-mounted display (HMD) augmented reality (AR) in older adults residing in communities or assisted care facilities. The main questions it aims to answer are: what is the feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction of HMD AR vs two-dimensional audio-video communication? Older adults and their designated family member will complete HMD AR activities in 8 session visits over 4 weeks. Researchers will compare HMD AR to 2-D audio-visual (AV) comparison group on feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction with the interactive communication technology.

Conditions

Loneliness

Keywords

augmented reality; interactive communication technology; older adults; photorealistic avatars

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Feasibility of Intervention

  Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM) questionnaire is valid 4-item questionnaire that respondents answer from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree) on whether the intervention seems implementable, possible, doable, and easy to use. Range of scores are 4 (least feasible) to 20 (greatest feasibility).

  Week 4

• Acceptability of Intervention Questionnaire

  The degree to which the technology is acceptable to older adults and their family members. The Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM) was used. This is a valid instrument consisting of 4 items that participants indicate the level of acceptability on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree). Concepts are meets approval, is appealing, like, and welcome. Range of total scores is 4 (least acceptable) to 20 (most acceptable).

  Week 4

• UCLA Loneliness Scale

  Measure of loneliness of older adults and of family participants at baseline using the UCLA-6 Loneliness Scale. This valid instrument consists of 6 items in which the participant indicates the frequency of the loneliness symptoms from 1 (never) to 4 (always). Range of total score is 6-24 with higher values indicating greater loneliness. .

  Baseline and week 4

• Networked Minds Measure (NMM) of Social Presence

  At the last session, participants completed the Networked Minds Measure of Social Presence instrument, that assesses the participant's perception of their awareness of the other person, whether the other person seems to pay attention, whether emotional aspects were conveyed and how well they could understand the other person during the interaction. The total score ranges from 0 to 4 with higher scores indicating greater social presence with the interactive communication technology.

  Week 4

Study Arms (2)

HMD AR

EXPERIMENTAL

Pairs of older adults with their designated family members who geographically apart will perform collaborative activities using HMD AR in 8 sessions over 4 weeks.

Behavioral: HMD AR

2-D Audio-Visual

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Pairs of older adults with their designated family members who geographically apart will perform collaborative activities using 2-D Audio-Visual in 8 sessions over 4 weeks.

Behavioral: 2-D AV

Interventions

2-D AV BEHAVIORAL

Older adults will use 2-D AV to engage with family members at a distance. Links will be provided to play a game of checkers or decorate a fireplace setting.

2-D Audio-Visual

HMD AR BEHAVIORAL

Older adults will wear head mounted display to engage in collaborative augmented reality activities: playing checkers, decorating a fireplace mantel.

HMD AR

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• age 60 and older
• residing at home in community
• if residing in assisted living facility, more than 3 months

You may not qualify if:

• unable to provide assent or consent
• unable to understand or speak English
• physical impairment that impedes participation
• terminally ill

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Vanderbilt University: lead
• National Institute on Aging (NIA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee, 37212-2010, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Sarkar N, Tate JA, Tauseef M, Ullal A, Maxwell CA, Juckett LA, Scharre DW, Tan A, Zhang R, Ingram Z, Mion LC. Feasibility and Acceptability of Collaborative Augmented Reality for Older Adults and Companions: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Feb 11;15:e83864. doi: 10.2196/83864.

  PMID: 41672493 DERIVED

Limitations and Caveats

This was a small feasibility pilot with the main focus on older adult and family participants acceptance of the HMD-AR or Zoom as an interactive communication technology. Given the small sample size, no conclusions can be made on whether HMD-AR or Zoom is effective in decreasing loneliness. Larger trials for longer duration are necessary.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Nilanjan Sarkar
• Organization: Vanderbilt University

nilanjan.sarkar@vanderbilt.edu

615-343-7219

Study Officials

• Nilanjan Sarkar

  Vanderbilt University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 2, 2023
• First Posted: December 21, 2023
• Study Start: April 22, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2025
• Study Completion: May 22, 2025
• Last Updated: May 6, 2026
• Results First Posted: May 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: Upon publication of results. No end date.
• Access Criteria: Researchers and scientists in the field can access by contacting Dr. Nilanjan Sarkar with a 1-2 page protocol.

Locations

US (1)