READY? – Reflective dialog tool on issues relating to the use of robotic systems for nursing care

Abstract The assessment tool “READY?” supports care facilities and services in their institutional reflection on the use of robotics for nursing care. The tool contains a digitally supported question catalog completed in an accompanying workshop in the respective institution with the involvement of various stakeholders. The question catalog includes questions from the categories “Care”, “Privacy and legal issues”, “Ethical criteria”, “Technology and infrastructure”, “Institutional and social embeddedness”, and “Economic criteria” and thus pursues a multi-perspective approach. The assessment tool is empirically and theoretically based and was tested in four care facilities and services in the field. Four focus groups and a supplementary survey ( n = 32) were conducted during the testing. The results indicate that the assessment tool can assist in initiating an institutional debate on the prerequisites for the possible use of robotics. The focus group participants report that the tool offers an opportunity for professional discussion and the possibility to strengthen collaboration within the institution. Suggestions for improving the assessment tool were collected, including the prospective provision of literature-based recommendations and optimizing the introduction of the workshops.