Factors affecting the willingness to use home-care robots among Chinese older adults as potential users

In response to the Chinese government's ongoing promotion of robot-assisted care for community-dwelling older adults, a comprehensive model clarifying the factors influencing older adults' willingness to use home-care robots is needed to increase the technology adoption. This study aimed to investigate associations between four domains-familiarity with home-care robots, openness to the ethical use of home-care robots, desired functions, and desired product characteristics-and the willingness of Chinese older adults, as potential users, to use home-care robots.

This study employed a cross-sectional design, recruiting 895 community-dwelling adults aged 60+ in Shanghai, China, through convenience sampling to complete the survey. 589 were identified as potential users without prior experience of using home-care robots. Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted for data analysis.

Specifically, 57.3% of the participants expressed a willingness to use home-care robots, whereas the remaining 42.7% did not wish to use them. Familiarity with home-care robots and the desired functions of the robots were not associated with their willingness to use them. Older adults who were open to the ethical use of robots, valued convenience/economic efficiency, and placed less emphasis on confidentiality and the opinions of people close to them expressed a higher willingness to use home-care robots.

To increase Chinese older adults' willingness to use home-care robots, regulations that protect older adults' privacy and enhance the convenience and affordability of these robots should be implemented. Moreover, public education is necessary to increase older adults' understanding of home-care robots.