Hospital Trial Results for the Acceptability of an Adaptive Robot Nursing Assistant

The integration of robotic nursing assistants in healthcare settings has the potential to enhance patient care and alleviate staff workload. This study evaluates the feasibility and user acceptance of the Adaptive Robot Nursing Assistant (ARNA) in a hospital environment through two experimental scenarios: (1) Patient Sitter, where patients teleoperate the robot to retrieve and deliver objects using two interfaces, and (2) Nurse Walker, where ARNA assists with mobility through a shared control mechanism. A total of 10 patients and 5 nurses participated in the study, assessing ARNA’s usability based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. Results indicate that joystick control provided a more intuitive experience compared to the tablet interface, yielding higher ratings for perceived ease of use (EU) and behavioral intention (BI). Additionally, prior video-game experience (VGE) positively correlated with perceived usefulness (PU) and satisfaction (S). While TAM model validation confirmed strong relationships between key acceptance factors, time to complete the tasks showed no significant differences across control methods. The findings emphasize the potential benefits of assistive robots in clinical settings, while also noting design challenges related to interface optimization and maneuverability, and providing insights into their effective integration.