Nurses’ perception towards care robots and their work experience with socially assistive technology during COVID-19: A qualitative study

Abstract

This study aimed to explore nurses’ perceptions towards care robots and their work experiences in caring for older adults who use socially assistive technology. This qualitative descriptive study included 18 nurses who cared for older adults with dementia or living alone at home. Interviews via Zoom were conducted, and the collected data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. The three themes were identified: (1) perceived benefits, (2) perceived challenges, and (3) improvements needed to enhance the quality of care. The participants perceived that the care robot and socially assistive technology were useful in caring for older adults during COVID-19. However, they noted that the limited capabilities of the technology and an increased workload negatively impacted the quality of care for older adults. The findings of this study indicated that socially assistive technology and care robots have potential benefits in assisting older adults with dementia or living alone.