Understanding the Functional Needs of Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Regarding Nursing Robots Using a Kano Survey Scale: Cross-Sectional Study

Background: With population aging and the growing burden of chronic diseases, the number of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China continues to rise. Nursing robots have been recognized as one potential approach to help alleviate nursing workload. However, patient-centered functional needs with respect to such robots among patients with CVD remain insufficiently explored in China. Objective: On the basis of the Kano model, this study aimed to analyze attitudes toward and demand priorities regarding nursing robot functions among patients with CVD. The findings may provide evidence to support function optimization and wider clinical application of nursing robots in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from July 2024 to June 2025. Convenience sampling was used to enroll 156 patients with CVD. Data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire, including demographic characteristics and a 15-item Kano scale for nursing robot functions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kano classification, better-worse coefficients, and a 4-quadrant diagram. Results: Among 15 functional items, accompanying care, consulting education, information management, and monitoring and warning were classified as must-be attributes; activity management, rehabilitation physiotherapy, drug management, security management, and logistics transfer were one-dimensional attributes; infection management, first aid skills, and nutritional care were attractive attributes; and sampling operation, personal hygiene management, and excretory care were indifferent attributes. Conclusions: Our study reveals that patients with CVD generally exhibited high acceptance of nursing robots, but there were significant differences in functional requirements. When introducing nursing robots into clinical settings, priority should be given to essential attributes such as monitoring and warning, as well as educational consultation, along with expected attributes such as medication management. At the same time, attractive attributes such as infection management can be developed as value-added features. For nondifferentiated attributes such as personal hygiene management, selective configurations can be implemented based on clinical needs to enhance the clinical applicability and patient acceptance of nursing robots.