Robotics as a Useful Tool to Improve the Hydration of the Elderly

NCT06520033 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: N230592023 CLIMA 00047
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 57
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a hydration educational program executed through a robot in comparison with the usual hydration program in terms of fluid intake and general health status of the residents. The main question to be answered is whether the use of robotics through a humanoid robot increases the hydration of institutionalized older people. Participants:

• The intervention group will receive a hydration plan executed by the robot and the control group will receive the center\'s usual hydration plan.
• Healthcare personnel will receive reminders from the robot to record fluid intake through it. In the control group, health personnel will perform the fluid intake record in paper format and at the end of the shift, as usual.

Conditions

Dehydration; Daily Fluid Intake; Urinary Infections

Keywords

dehydration; aged; nursing homes; robotics; fluid intake

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Daily fluid intake

  Amount in milliliters (ml)

  From enrollment to the end of intervention at 8 weeks

• Urine color

  Urine color chart (Armstrong, 2000). Values = 1 - 8. Dehydration: scores \>= 4

  8 weeks

• Serum osmolarity

  Serum osmolarity: \[1,86\*(Na+K)+1,15\*Glucose+urea+14)\]. Dehydration \> 300mOsm/kg

  8 weeks

• Blood Urea Nitrogen

  BUN = Urea/2.1428. Dehydration \> 20mg/dl

  8 weeks

• Number of urinary infections

  Obtained through a urine sample and evaluated with the Combur-Test.

  8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Dry Skin

  8 weeks

• Cognitive status

  8 weeks

• Cognitive status

  8 weeks

• Risk of falls

  8 weeks

• Illnesses

  8 weeks

Other Outcomes (5)

• Education level

  Baseline

• Birthdate

  Baseline

• Marital status

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention group will receive a hydration plan executed by a humanoid robot. Healthcare personnel will receive reminders from the robot to record fluid intake through it.

Device: humanoid robot

Control group with

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The control group will receive the center's usual hydration plan. The health personnel will make the fluid intake record in paper format and at the end of the shift, as usual.

Other: Usual care

Interventions

humanoid robot DEVICE

The humanoid robot will execute an educational hydration plan that will be integrated into the usual dynamics of the residence. In order to increase the fluid intake of the residents, stimulation activities will be proposed that will be carried out by the robot such as reminders, interactive activities and positive reinforcement. It will also allow the daily recording fluid intake of each residents. This intervention will last two months.

Intervention group

Usual care OTHER

The center's usual hydration plan

Control group with

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age equal to or greater than 65 years.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitat de Lleida: lead
• Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (Catalonia, Spain): collaborator
• Hospital Universitari Santa Maria (Lleida, Spain): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Residència i Centre de Dia per a Gent Gran Balàfia II

Lleida, Lleida, 25005, Spain

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Botigue T, Miranda J, Escobar-Bravo MA, Lavedan A, Roca J, Masot O. [Analysis of dehydration in older people in a nursing home in Spain: prevalence and associated factors]. Nutr Hosp. 2021 Apr 19;38(2):252-259. doi: 10.20960/nh.03260. Spanish.

  PMID: 33593070 BACKGROUND

• Masot O, Miranda J, Santamaria AL, Paraiso Pueyo E, Pascual A, Botigue T. Fluid Intake Recommendation Considering the Physiological Adaptations of Adults Over 65 Years: A Critical Review. Nutrients. 2020 Nov 4;12(11):3383. doi: 10.3390/nu12113383.

  PMID: 33158071 BACKGROUND

• Botigue T, Masot O, Miranda J, Nuin C, Viladrosa M, Lavedan A, Zwakhalen S. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Low Fluid Intake in Institutionalized Older Residents. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2019 Mar;20(3):317-322. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.08.011. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

  PMID: 30337227 BACKGROUND

• Masot O, Iglesias Millan A, Nuin C, Miranda J, Lavedan A, Botigue T. [How to improve hydration and fluid intake in institutionalized older people? A scientific literature review]. Nutr Hosp. 2018 Dec 3;35(6):1441-1449. doi: 10.20960/nh.1885. Spanish.

  PMID: 30525860 BACKGROUND

• Masot O, Lavedan A, Nuin C, Escobar-Bravo MA, Miranda J, Botigue T. Risk factors associated with dehydration in older people living in nursing homes: Scoping review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2018 Jun;82:90-98. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.03.020. Epub 2018 Mar 27.

  PMID: 29626702 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dehydration

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Water-Electrolyte Imbalance; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 26, 2024
• First Posted: July 25, 2024
• Study Start: May 8, 2024
• Primary Completion: September 6, 2024
• Study Completion: September 6, 2024
• Last Updated: April 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations

ES (1)