A Scale Development Study: Ethical Sensitivity Towards Artificial Intelligence and Robot Nurses

Socially assistive robots use social interactions to monitor, coach, provide companionship, and support health-promoting activities. However, the widespread use of artificial intelligence and robot nurse applications in many areas leads to ethical dilemmas and concerns.

A methodological study was conducted in two phases: (1) development of the scale through a literature review and interviews related to Ethical Sensitivity towards Artificial Intelligence and Robot Nurses; (2) confirming construct validity, criterion-related validity and reliability of the developed scale. The data were collected from 356 nursing students studying at the Nursing Department of a university in Turkey between November 2022 and December 2022.

The scale consists of 17 items and four sub-dimensions, which accounts for 55.84% of the total variance. The Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was 0.83, which was considered as significant. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of the Ethical Sensitivity Scale for Artificial Intelligence and Robot Nurses was 0.76, and its Bartlett's Test of Sphericity results were as follows: χ² = 1174.25, p = 0.000. According to the results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, fit indices were determined as follows: χ²/SD = 1.979, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.074, Comparative Fit Index = 0.894, Incremental Fit Index = 0.897 and Goodness of Fit Index = 0.880.

The Ethical Sensitivity Scale for Artificial Intelligence and Robot Nurses was determined as a valid and reliable measurement tool. It is recommended that the Ethical Sensitivity Scale for Artificial Intelligence and Robot Nurses should be used in different sample groups, different cultures and societies.