ROBOT COMPANIONS FOR STROKE THERAPY-THE ACCEPTANCE OF ASSISTIVE ROBOTICS AMONG 80 PATIENTS

Abstract

In Europe 1 Mio persons suffer from stroke annually (Germany: ca. 262,000), strokes make up a total of 2–5% of health care expenditure. Current forecasts predict that the number of patients will continue to increase due to demographic changes. The need for innovative, effective and sustainable therapies, is growing enormously. The German ROREAS project aims to develop a self-directed training for stroke patients based on an autonomous robot companion who guides an independent gait-training program, encourage cognitive abilities and motivate self-paced exercise. A number of thirty patients (N=30) tested the autonomously navigating robot-companion on the clinic floors; another fifty (N=50) had the opportunity to encounter the robot in the context of group discussions. The project results show that both patients and fellow patients accepted the developed robotic trainer. The results show the acceptability of the use of robotic companions in rehabilitation clinics, about patient-specific fears vis-à-vis robots as well as about the factors that support the later introduction of robotic assistants on the patient’s side. According to informants, the robot motivates patients to train independently and to leave their room, despite orientational difficulties, as well as encouraging patients to engage with robotic company and expanding their movement around the clinic. The robot seems to bridge the gap between therapeutically assisted training, independent training in the clinic and additional training at home. A video presentation of this project is presented here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7OpgPaLXCs