UnknownNot Applicable

Use of a Voice Assistant to Improve Mental Health in Older People

80 participantsStarted 2023-10-15

Plain-language summary

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of DIAL (an innovative and user-friendly solution based on Multiplatform Voice Assistive Technologies) in reducing unwanted loneliness and increasing the mental health and the quality of life in individuals over 65 years old. Additionally, a secondary objective is to evaluate the experience of using the system, including aspects of usability and satisfaction, and to analyze whether the functionalities provided by DIAL contribute to the improvement of various dimensions in the lives of the elderly. It is hypothesized that DIAL will reduce unwanted loneliness and improve mental health in older people. In addition, we aim to obtain positive ratings in terms of usability and satisfaction with DIAL, along with the verification that most of the functionalities provided by DIAL will be useful to older people.

Who can participate

Age range

65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * 1\) Be 65 years old or older, 2) Speak Spanish, 3) Meet at least one criterion of vulnerability to suffering unwanted loneliness (the criteria will be taken from the European report by Baarck et al. 2021. For example, being a widower, have a physical illness...), 4) Ability and willingness to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * 1\) Present cognitive impairment, 2) Suffer from a serious mental problem (e.g. depression, schizophrenia) or 3) Suffer from a serious physical problem (e.g. blindness or deafness) that makes interaction with the device difficult.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA; Russell et al., 1980; Vázquez & Jiménez, 1994)

Timeframe: Pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and follow-up (3 months)

Health-related quality of life scale (EuroQol-5D; Herdman et al., 2001).

Timeframe: Pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and follow-up (3 months)

The World Health Organization Quality of Life-Old (WHOQOL-OLD Scale; Power et al., 2005; Lucas-Carrasco et al., 2011).

Timeframe: Pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and follow-up (3 months)

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-2 (GAD-2; Kroenke et al., 2007; García-Campayo et al., 2012)

Timeframe: Pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and follow-up (3 months)

The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2; Kroenke et al., 2003; Rodríguez-Muñoz et al., 2017)

Timeframe: Pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and follow-up (3 months)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06070402

SponsorUniversity of Valencia

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-11-15

Contact for this trial

Tamara Escrivá Martínez, Postdoctoral researcher

+34617923332 tamara.escriva@uv.es

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