Table 2 Key barriers and implications
From: The benefits of and barriers to using a social robot PARO in care settings: a scoping review
Barriers | Implications |
|---|---|
Cost and workload • High cost • Staff workload | Consider shared use of the robot to serve a larger group of population in care settings Involve healthcare professionals in co-developing strategies to fit workflow, improve effectiveness, and meet clinical needs |
Infection concerns • Sharing and spreading disease | Engage infection control practitioners, leadership, and frontline to develop practice guidelines and protocols Provide training and ongoing support to ensure staff understand how to clean the robot and follow infection prevention procedures |
Stigma and ethical issues • Robot replacing human • Reducing human contact • Objectification • Infantilizing • Deception | Avoid the ‘human vs robot’ thinking, technology should complement but not replace the care provided by clinicians Learn the person’s biography and apply a person-centered approach Work with frontline and leaders in organizations to clarify the role of the robot and find out how the robot can be used most effectively Investigate if the robot works with people with different stages and types of dementia, gender, ethnic and cultural backgrounds |