Research on the possibility of humanoid robots to assist in medical activities in nursing homes and convalescent wards

摘要

In Japan, increasing attention has been given to using humanoid robots to solve problems concerning personnel shortage and to reduce duty workload in clinical and nursing situations. Currently, the development of robots is not yet at the level where they can function like human medical and health care professionals. For this reason, it is imperative to discover ways in which humanoid robots can be used to solve the issues of personnel shortage and duty workload. The aim of this research is to clarify the impressions nurse and care staff has toward humanoid robots. The research focuses on 1) whether there are any duties humanoids can undertake and 2) what is required of humanoids to perform clinical functions. This research was approved by the ethical review board of University Hospital A, and a mail survey was conducted between August and September, 2010. The respondents were 939 members of nurse and care staff working in nursing homes and convalescent wards. Among the reasons given by respondents who think that humanoids cannot do any clinical duty, the most common was “Not clear what and how much ability humanoids have,” chosen by 70.41 percent of respondents. Regarding the qualities required of humanoid robots on the aspect of ethical considerations, 63.79 percent chose “Not causing harm to humans,” making it the most common response. From the above results, it appears that personnel working in nursing homes and convalescent wards do not have enough accurate information on humanoid robots. It is therefore necessary that for future engagement of humanoid robots in clinical duty, advanced and detailed information on the ability and performance of humanoid robots be disseminated, so that not only patients but also medical staff can accept them without difficulty.