User perception of medical service robots in hospital wards: a cross-sectional survey

Nurses' perceptions of medical service robots in negative-pressure isolated wards and in general wards: A cross-sectional survey

AIM

To evaluate nurses' workload during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to identify their perception of medical serviced robots (MSRs) that may help with or replace the tasks of nurses in negative-pressure isolated wards and general wards.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

A researcher-made questionnaire was applied that assessed nurses' current workload and their attitudes towards and perceptions of MSRs. A visual analogue scale (VAS) from 1 to 10 was used to assess workload. Perceptions evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from one point for 'strongly disagree' to five points for 'strongly agree'. A higher VAS score indicated a higher workload. On the other hands, a higher Likert score indicated a more positive perception and three points was neutral. The questionnaire was conducted on 150 nurses in negative-pressure isolated wards for the management of COVID-19 and 150 nurses in general wards. Quota sampling technique was used as sampling technique. Data analysis was performed through independent t-tests, chi-square tests and two-tailed tests. The p-value <0.05 was interpreted to statistically significant.

RESULTS

Two hundred eighty-two participants responded and 142 belonged to the negative-pressure isolated ward. The overall response rate was 94%, and 94.7% in the negative isolated ward. The mean score ± standard deviation for nursing-related psychological stress at the current work site was 7.18 ± 1.58 points, and the mean score for physical workload was 7.65 ± 1.48. The need for MSRs was rated as 3.66 ± 0.86 out of 5. Overall, a positive attitude towards MSRs was confirmed, with no difference between ward groups. The overall ratings were 3.14 ± 1.15 for perceived availability and 3.26 ± 1.13 for perceived efficiency. Both nurse groups perceived that MSRs were most available and efficient for monitoring and measurements. Nurses in negative-pressure isolated wards perceived MSRs more positively than did nurses in general wards regarding setting of alarms (p = 0.003) and delivery of medical devices/materials (p = 0.013). Based on these results, functional development of MSRs associated with monitoring, measurements, setting of alarms and delivery should be prioritized. No patient or public contribution.

Human-Robot Interaction and Social Robot: The Emerging Field of Healthcare Robotics and Current and Future Perspectives for Spinal Care

Recent advances in robotics technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked increased interest in humanoid robots that resemble humans and social robots capable of interacting socially. Alongside this trend, a new field of robot research called human-robot interaction (HRI) is gaining prominence. The aim of this review paper is to introduce the fundamental concepts of HRI and social robots, examine their current applications in the medical field, and discuss the current and future prospects of HRI and social robots in spinal care. HRI is an interdisciplinary field where robotics, AI, social sciences, design, and various disciplines collaborate organically to develop robots that successfully interact with humans as the ultimate goal. While social robots are not yet widely deployed in clinical environments, ongoing HRI research encompasses various areas such as nursing and caregiving support, social and emotional assistance, rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement for the elderly, medical information provision and education, as well as patient monitoring and data collection. Although still in its early stages, research related to spinal care includes studies on robotic support for rehabilitation exercises, assistance in gait training, and questionnaire-based assessments for spinal pain. Future applications of social robots in spinal care will require diverse HRI research efforts and active involvement from spinal specialists.

Exploring the influence of anthropomorphic appearance on usage intention on online medical service robots (OMSRs): A neurophysiological study

Online medical service robots (OMSRs) are becoming increasingly important in the medical industry, and their design has become a highly focused issue. This study investigated the neuroeconomics underlying the formation of usage intention, specifically evaluating the impact of anthropomorphic appearance and age on users' intentions to use OMSRs. Event-related potentials were used to analyze electroencephalography signals recorded from participants. This study found that OMSRs with a low anthropomorphic appearance induced larger P200 and P300 amplitudes, resulting in increased attentional resources compared to OMSRs with a moderate or high anthropomorphic appearance. OMSRs with moderate anthropomorphic appearances captured more attention and elicited larger P200 and P300 than those with high anthropomorphic appearances. Regarding age characteristics, OMSRs with senior features attracted more attention and induced larger P200 and P300 amplitudes. In terms of usage intention, compared to the others, users demonstrate a stronger usage intention towards the low anthropomorphism of OMSRs. Additionally, compared to the senior ones, users also exhibit a stronger usage intention toward a young appearance of OMSRs. These findings provide valuable insights for robot designers and practitioners to improve the appearance of OMSRs.

Robotic Anesthesia: A Vision for 2050

The last 2 decades have brought important developments in anesthetic technology, including robotic anesthesia. Anesthesiologists titrate the administration of pharmacological agents to the patients' physiology and the needs of surgery, using a variety of sophisticated equipment (we use the term "pilots of the human biosphere"). In anesthesia, increased safety seems coupled with increased technology and innovation. This article gives an overview of the technological developments over the past decades, both in terms of pharmacological and mechanical robots, which have laid the groundwork for robotic anesthesia: target-controlled drug infusion systems, closed-loop administration of anesthesia and sedation, mechanical robots for intubation, and the latest development in the world of communication with the arrival of artificial intelligence (AI)-derived chatbots are presented.