Papers
9
Total Citations
735
H-Index
7
About
David Shum is a prominent researcher whose work sits at the intersection of aging, dementia care, and assistive technology. He is perhaps best known for leading a landmark cluster-randomized controlled trial investigating the therapeutic effects of PARO, a robotic seal, on the emotional and behavioral symptoms of dementia in long-term care settings. This foundational 2017 study has garnered 278 citations and sparked a suite of follow-on investigations examining PARO's influence on agitation, motor activity, sleep patterns, psychotropic medication use, and cost-effectiveness — collectively representing some of the most rigorous evidence in the field of socially assistive robotics. Shum's research has demonstrated that non-pharmacological, technology-driven interventions can offer meaningful relief for dementia symptoms while potentially reducing reliance on costly medications. His 2018 cost-effectiveness analysis (111 citations) and sleep-pattern study (90 citations) underscore both the clinical and economic significance of his contributions. More recently, Shum has broadened his focus to technology-based cognitive interventions for older adults more generally, as reflected in his 2022 review paper. With hundreds of citations across his dementia-technology portfolio, his work has meaningfully shaped how researchers, clinicians, and policymakers think about innovative, compassionate care for aging populations.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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- 8A SOCIAL ROBOT CALLED PARO AND ITS EFFECT ON PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA3 citations · 2017
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