Identification of care tasks for the use of wearable transfer support robots \u2013 an observational study at nursing facilities using robots on a daily basis

Kenji Kato,Izumi Kondo,Nobuaki Mizuguchi,Keita Aimoto,Shohei Tsuchimoto,Tatsuya Yoshimi,Naoki Itoh

doi:10.1186/s12913-021-06639-2

Kenji Kato, Izumi Kondo + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06639-2

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Abstract

BackgroundTo reduce the physical burden of caregivers, wearable transfer support robots are highly desirable. Although these robots are reportedly effective for specific tasks in experimental environments, there is little information about their effectiveness at nursing care facilities. The aim of this study was to identify care tasks and operations suitable for the use of these robots among caregivers in nursing facilities where these robots have been in use on a daily basis.MethodsA 1-min observational time-motion analysis was conducted to examine care tasks and operations in two nursing facilities where wearable transfer support robots, namely Muscle Suit or HAL® Lumbar Type for Care Support, have been used routinely on a daily basis for more than 24 months.ResultsAnalysis of the care tasks and their time ratio while wearing the equipment revealed that both robots were used conspicuously for direct care in over 70% of transits, especially during transfer assistance and toileting care. Furthermore, these robots were used intensively in the morning along with wake-up calls to care recipients, where pre-assigned wearers used them as part of their “routine work.”ConclusionsWe found that these wearable transfer support robots enabled effective performance of care tasks and operations in nursing facilities where these robots have been used on a daily basis for an extended period of time. These results may lead to the effective implementation and sustained operation of other types of care robots in the future.Trial registrationUMIN Clinical Trials Registry no. UMIN000039204. Trial registration date: January 21, 2020. Interventional study. Parallel, non-randomized, single blinded.

Highlights

To reduce the physical burden of caregivers, wearable transfer support robots are highly desirable
The incidence of chronic low back pain among caregivers is increasing [2], and there is a pressing need to reduce their burden from repetitive motions such as transfer assistance and repositioning of care recipients on a bed, which increase the risk of low back pain [3, 4]
In Japan, newly developed wearable robotic care equipment for transfer assistance is available as a means of supporting caregivers to reduce their physical burden

Summary

Introduction

To reduce the physical burden of caregivers, wearable transfer support robots are highly desirable These robots are reportedly effective for specific tasks in experimental environments, there is little information about their effectiveness at nursing care facilities. HAL®, Lumbar Type for Care Support (HAL), developed by CYBERDYNE Inc. in Japan (Fig. 1B), assists caregivers movement utilizing their biosignals and supports their lower back to reduce the stress applied to their lumbar region [10] These robots have been described as “wearable equipment for transfer aids” in the priority area of care robot technology in Japan [11] and are expected to be used in the provision of nursing care services. These robots are effective in reducing muscle fatigue and muscle activity in specific movement tasks in experimental environments [12, 13], there is little information on how they could be utilized efficiently at nursing facilities

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