Abstract
Motivation: We are witnessing two phenomena. The first is that the physiotherapist is increasingly becoming a figure that must interact with Digital Health. On the other hand, social robots through research are improving more and more in the aspects of social interaction thanks also to artificial intelligence and becoming useful in rehabilitation processes. It begins to become strategic to investigate the intersections between these two phenomena. Objective: Therefore, we set ourselves the goal of investigating the consensus and opinion of physiotherapists around the introduction of social robots in clinical practice both in rehabilitation and assistance. Procedure: An electronic survey has been developed focused on social robot-based rehabilitation and assistance and has been submitted to subjects focused on physiotherapy sciences to investigate their opinion and their level of consent regarding the use of the social robot in rehabilitation and assistance. Two samples of subjects were recruited: the first group (156 participating subjects, 79 males, 77 females, mean age 24.3 years) was in the training phase, and the second (167 participating subjects, 86 males, 81 females, mean age 42.4 years) group was involved in the work processes. An electronic feedback form was also submitted to investigate the acceptance of the proposed methodology. Results: The survey showed a consistency of the results between the two samples from which interesting considerations emerge. Contrary to stereotypes that report how AI-based devices put jobs at risk, physiotherapists are not afraid of these devices. The subjects involved in the study believe the following: (a) social robots can be reliable co-workers but will remain a complementary device; (b) their role will be of the utmost importance as an operational manager in their use and in performance monitoring; (c) these devices will allow an increase in working capacity and facilitate integration. All those involved in the study believe that the proposed electronic survey has proved to be a useful and effective tool that can be useful as a periodic monitoring tool and useful for scientific societies. Conclusions: The evolution of social robots represents an unstoppable process as does the increase in the aging of the population. Stakeholders must not look with suspicion toward these devices, which can represent an important resource, but rather invest in monitoring and consensus training initiatives.
Highlights
Robotics has made it possible to introduce social robots (SRs) in both remote rehabilitation and assistance as a valid support in several sectors both as a direct and practical support and as a mediator [1,2,3]
Regarding the figure of the physiotherapist, since the COVID-19 pandemic, it is preferred that when we mention a therapist with extended tasks toward digital in person or remotely, we refer to the augmented physiotherapist (APT) or digital physiotherapist (DPT)
Alam Le has focused on this and analyzed the critical issues highlighted in the current pandemic and the previous pandemic experiences, analyzed the changes already requested by some key figures of the health system in relation to technologies due to new intervention models consolidated during the current epidemic, and reported some consensus studies on digital rehabilitation focused around the new figure of the DPT without forgetting the ethical and curricular aspects [5]
Summary
Robotics has made it possible to introduce social robots (SRs) in both remote rehabilitation and assistance as a valid support in several sectors both as a direct and practical support and as a mediator [1,2,3]. There has been talk of new forms of therapy delivery in this area in virtual mode through remote digital communication or using new tools such as the SRs. For example, Alam Le has focused on this and analyzed the critical issues highlighted in the current pandemic and the previous pandemic experiences, analyzed the changes already requested by some key figures of the health system in relation to technologies due to new intervention models consolidated during the current epidemic, and reported some consensus studies on digital rehabilitation focused around the new figure of the DPT without forgetting the ethical and curricular aspects [5]
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