Using Structural Equation Modeling to Explore Patients’ and Healthcare Professionals’ Expectations and Attitudes Towards Socially Assistive Humanoid Robots in Nursing and Care Routine

IF 3.8 2区计算机科学 Q2 ROBOTICS

International Journal of Social Robotics Pub Date : 2023-09-15 DOI:10.1007/s12369-023-01039-4

Izidor Mlakar, Urška Smrke, Vojko Flis, Nina Kobilica, Samo Horvat, Bojan Ilijevec, Bojan Musil, Nejc Plohl

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Abstract

Abstract Healthcare systems around the world are currently witnessing various challenges, including population aging and workforce shortages. As a result, the existing, overworked staff are struggling to meet the ever-increasing demands and provide the desired quality of care. One of the promising technological solutions that could complement the human workforce and alleviate some of their workload, are socially assistive humanoid robots. However, despite their potential, the implementation of socially assistive humanoid robots is often challenging due to low acceptance among key stakeholders, namely, patients and healthcare professionals. Hence, the present study first investigated the extent to which these stakeholders accept the use of socially assistive humanoid robots in nursing and care routine, and second, explored the characteristics that contribute to higher/lower acceptance within these groups, with a particular emphasis on demographic variables, technology expectations, ethical acceptability, and negative attitudes. In study 1, conducted on a sample of 490 healthcare professionals, the results of structural equation modeling showed that acceptance is driven primarily by aspects of ethical acceptability, although education and technology expectations also exert an indirect effect. In study 2, conducted on a sample of 371 patients, expectations regarding capabilities and attitudes towards the social influence of robots emerged as important predictors of acceptance. Moreover, although acceptance rates differed between tasks, both studies show a relatively high acceptance of socially assistive humanoid robots. Despite certain limitations, the study findings provide essential knowledge that enhances our understanding of stakeholders’ perceptions and acceptance of socially assistive humanoid robots in hospital environments, and may guide their deployment.

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应用结构方程模型探讨患者和医护人员对社交辅助类人机器人在护理和护理中的期望和态度

世界各地的医疗保健系统目前正面临各种挑战，包括人口老龄化和劳动力短缺。因此，现有的过度劳累的工作人员正在努力满足不断增长的需求，并提供所需的护理质量。其中一个很有前途的技术解决方案是社交辅助类人机器人，它可以补充人类劳动力并减轻他们的工作量。然而，尽管具有潜力，由于关键利益相关者(即患者和医疗保健专业人员)的接受度较低，社交辅助类人机器人的实施往往具有挑战性。因此，本研究首先调查了这些利益相关者接受在护理和护理日常中使用社会辅助类人机器人的程度，其次，探讨了这些群体中导致更高/更低接受度的特征，特别强调人口变量、技术期望、道德可接受性和消极态度。在研究1中，对490名医疗保健专业人员的样本进行了研究，结构方程模型的结果显示，接受主要是由道德可接受性方面驱动的，尽管教育和技术期望也会产生间接影响。在对371名患者样本进行的研究2中，对机器人的能力和对机器人社会影响的态度的期望成为接受程度的重要预测因素。此外，尽管不同任务的接受率不同，但两项研究都表明，对社交辅助类人机器人的接受程度相对较高。尽管存在一定的局限性，但研究结果提供了必要的知识，增强了我们对医院环境中利益相关者对社交辅助类人机器人的认知和接受程度的理解，并可能指导它们的部署。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Social Robotics ROBOTICS-

CiteScore

9.80

自引率

8.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Social Robotics is the study of robots that are able to interact and communicate among themselves, with humans, and with the environment, within the social and cultural structure attached to its role. The journal covers a broad spectrum of topics related to the latest technologies, new research results and developments in the area of social robotics on all levels, from developments in core enabling technologies to system integration, aesthetic design, applications and social implications. It provides a platform for like-minded researchers to present their findings and latest developments in social robotics, covering relevant advances in engineering, computing, arts and social sciences. The journal publishes original, peer reviewed articles and contributions on innovative ideas and concepts, new discoveries and improvements, as well as novel applications, by leading researchers and developers regarding the latest fundamental advances in the core technologies that form the backbone of social robotics, distinguished developmental projects in the area, as well as seminal works in aesthetic design, ethics and philosophy, studies on social impact and influence, pertaining to social robotics.