Perceptions matter: Nurses’ attitudes toward robotics are critical for its adoption
A new study from Taiwan finds that nurses‘ positive views of robot benefits increase their engagement. How can hospital managers use this insight to improve technology adoption? Nurses’ attitudes toward robotics
Introduction
The increasing life expectancy amplifies the demand for specialized care, posing financial and other complex challenges for its provision, whether familial, voluntary, or professional. With the latest developments in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, assistive robotic systems are gaining importance in supporting these growing care needs and emerging as a critical innovation in nursing [1, 2]. Correspondingly, the global market for robotic nurse assistants is anticipated to grow from USD 1.0 billion in 2022 to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8% by 2030 [3]. The following illustration provides an overview of key application fields:
Applications of assistive robotic systems in nursing careaccording to Ohneberg et al. (2023)[4]*(own illustration)*
Healthcare robots are generally categorized into two types: assistive robots, which focus on physical tasks and patient monitoring, and social assistive robots, which offer emotional and cognitive support to vulnerable groups like children, older people, and disabled individuals [5]. Despite their potential, international meta-studies indicate varied perceptions of health professionals towards assistive robot applications, with notable skepticism among individuals [1, 6].
Research indicates that a lack of digital knowledge and negative attitudes toward technology among nurses are barriers to its adoption [1, 7, 8]. One new study from Taiwan is the first to investigate the impact of assistive robots‘ perceived benefits and maintenance requirements on nurses‘ engagement in working with such technology [9].
Perceived robot benefits outweigh maintenance barriers
Liao et al. (2023) utilized a two-wave follow-up study design to survey 358 full-time operating room nurses at a large medical center in Taiwan. The facility prominently integrates assistive robots that carry equipment and medical materials in various operating rooms and boasts an in-house IT team for robot maintenance. This study focuses on exploring the influence of robot benefits, maintenance requirements, and the personal innovativeness of nurses on their attitudes toward robots, as well as their engagement in nurse-robot interactions [9].
The results indicate that the perceived benefits, such as improved efficiency through time and energy savings, along with a positive attitude towards robots, are crucial in fostering nurses‘ engagement with them. The study also finds that maintenance efforts that nurses invest in operating robots do not significantly affect nurses‘ attitudes, and similarly, the individual propensity of nurses to adopt new information technologies, referred to as personal innovativeness, does not notably affect their engagement with robots [9].
Facilitating Nurse-Robot Engagement: A focus on training and operational efficiency
The insights gained may apply to similar international healthcare settings. The presented study highlights the significance of perceived robot benefits in fostering nurse-robot interaction. The researchers focused on two key benefits: saving time and reducing physical effort. It is recommended that developers of healthcare robots prioritize these aspects in both design and communication strategies [9].
Hospital management should emphasize the benefits of robots and offer practical training for nurses on their use and maintenance to increase engagement [9]. Effective integration of such technology is supported by customized digital training, structured on-the-job training, and strong management support [7]. Additionally, encouraging tech-savvy healthcare professionals to lead the adoption of these technologies can promote broader use in hospital settings [9].
Further readings in German: Humanoide Roboter in der Altenpflege: Zwischen Akzeptanz und Zurückhaltung
References
- Rebitschek FG; Wagner GG, Akzeptanz von assistiven Robotern im Pflege- und Gesundheitsbereich Repräsentative Daten zeichnen ein klares Bild für Deutschland. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 2020. 53: p. 637-643.
- Soriano GP, Yasuhara Y, Ito H, Matsumoto K, Osaka K, Kai Y, et al., *Robots and Robotics in Nursing.*Healthcare (Basel), 2022. 10(8).
- Grand View Research, Robotic Nurse Assistant Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product Type (Independence Support Robots, Daily Care & Transportation Robots), by End-use, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030. 2022.
- Ohneberg C, Stöbich N, Warmbein A, Rathgeber I, Mehler-Klamt AC, Fischer U, et al., Assistive robotic systems in nursing care: a scoping review. BMC Nursing, 2023. 22(1): p. 72.
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- Savela N, Latikka R, Oksa R, Kortelainen S, Oksanen A., Affective Attitudes Toward Robots at Work: A Population-Wide Four-Wave Survey Study. International Journal of Social Robotics, 2022. 14(6): p. 1379-1395.
- De Leeuw, J.A., H. Woltjer, and R.B. Kool, Identification of Factors Influencing the Adoption of Health Information Technology by Nurses Who Are Digitally Lagging: In-Depth Interview Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2020. 22(8): p. e15630.
- Verloo H, Kampel T, Vidal N, Pereira F., Perceptions About Technologies That Help Community-Dwelling Older Adults Remain at Home: Qualitative Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2020. 22(6): p. e17930.
- Liao GY, Huang TL, Wong MK, Shyu YL, Ho LH, Wang C, et al., Enhancing Nurse-Robot Engagement: Two-Wave Survey Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2023. 25: p. e37731. DOI: [10.2196/37731](http://DOI: 10.2196/37731)
