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.

NCT Number	NCT06878339
Lead Sponsor	The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Conditions	Age-related Hearing Loss
Enrollment	40 participants
Start Date	2025-05
Primary Completion	2025-09 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-03 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-03-14