Advances in medicine have extended human lifespan. Estimates suggest that by 2030, one in six people globally will be over 60 years of age. This rapid increase in the aging population means an increase in the number of elderly people in need of care. Families and professional caregivers may not be able to meet this increased demand. Additionally, reports from several developed countries show significant shortages of human resources, including nurses, highlighting the need for additional strategies to meet the needs of older people.
Simple, effective technologies like robots can help bridge this gap and provide older adults with the care they need to age comfortably at home. However, despite their significant potential, social acceptance of home care assistance robots in an aging society still remains an issue. Additionally, cultural, ethical and financial differences have hindered the widespread use of robots in many countries, making it difficult to develop robots that can meet the specific needs of older people in need of long-term care.
In a new study, researchers at Chiba University in Japan sought to uncover factors that influence users’ willingness to use home care robots. Previous research has shown that public involvement in research has a positive impact on study design and patient involvement. Based on this, the researchers investigated a user-centered approach that involves potential users in the research and development process of home care robots. This approach takes into account the real expectations and challenges users face.
Providing further insight into the study, published in Scientific Reports on November 12, 2024, Professor Suwa Sayuri, corresponding author of the article, said: To achieve ‘Aging in Place’. “Because each country has its own unique history, culture, and legal system, we wanted to clarify how home care robots can be developed and implemented in a way that respects these differences,” said Hiroo Ide of the Future Initiatives Laboratory at the University of Tokyo. Ide) actively co-authored with Dr. Yumi Akuta from the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, University College Dublin, and Dr. Naonori Kodate from the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin. Dr. Jaakko Hallila; Dr. Wenwei Yu from the Center for Advanced Medical Engineering, Chiba University;
The team surveyed care recipients and caregivers across Japan, Ireland and Finland. The questionnaire evaluated the user’s willingness with 48 items in four aspects: familiarity with robots, important things about home care robots, expected functions of home care robots, and ethically acceptable use. The researchers analyzed responses from 525 Japanese, 163 Irish, and 170 Finnish people for common and distinct factors that influenced their willingness to use robots.
As a result of the analysis, the common factors of respondents from the three countries were ‘willingness to participate in research and development’, ‘interest in robot-related news’, and ‘positive impression of robots’. Meanwhile, ‘convenience’ in Japan, ‘notifying family and support staff when unexpected changes occur in the elderly’ in Ireland, and ‘design’ in Finland emerged as factors that clearly influenced robot use.
The study also highlights how historical, cultural, and demographic variables across countries influence home care robot implementation. In Japan, government, industry, and academia are encouraging robotics development, and there is general optimism about robotics applications. Although robotics development lags slightly in Ireland, the use of robots for older people is increasingly recognized and artificial intelligence and robotics are being applied to health and social care. The ‘design’ chosen by Finnish respondents was consistent with Finnish designs that are widely known around the world, suggesting that design is important in robot manufacturing.
Overall, this study highlights the importance of user involvement and their perspectives in the development of home care technologies. Home care robots have significant potential in empowering older adults. “Developing home care robots in collaboration with potential users, such as older adults and caregivers, will lead to greater product acceptance in the future. This will not only help validate home care products under development but also expand their use in practice. Ultimately, this will help It will improve the well-being of users,” Professor Suwa concluded.
