Uncertainties about accepting care robots

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Robotics in Healthcare
• Human-Robot Interaction

Background:

• The integration of care robots into elderly care is anticipated.
• Care professionals face uncertainty regarding the appropriate use of robots in their work.
• Understanding factors influencing robot acceptance is crucial for successful implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between uncertainty about care-robot appropriateness and robot acceptance among care professionals.
• To explore the perceived usefulness of robot assistance across different scenarios.
• To track changes in uncertainty and acceptance over time.

Main Methods:

• A sample of care professionals was surveyed in two waves between 2016 and 2020.
• Participants were presented with various scenarios of robot assistance in elderly care.
• Data analysis focused on the correlation between perceived appropriateness, usefulness, and acceptance.

Main Results:

• Perceived appropriateness of robot use was higher in plausible scenarios.
• Uncertainty about robots' roles negatively correlated with perceived usefulness.
• Uncertainties regarding care-robot use decreased over the four-year study period.
• Care workers' undecided opinions on robot acceptance are more amenable to change.

Conclusions:

• Addressing uncertainty is key to increasing robot acceptance in care settings.
• Focusing on undecided care professionals may be more effective than targeting strong opponents.
• The findings suggest a potential for reduced uncertainty and increased acceptance of care robots over time.