Usability study of a smart transfer-assistive robot with dual arms for care workers

Abstract

Purpose

The predicted global labor shortages and health problems for long-term care workers can be addressed by care robots. We have developed a smart transfer-assistive robot with dual arms to assist in patient transfers. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of a transfer-assistive robot with dual arms for long-term care workers in the Living Lab of Kyung Hee University.

Methods

Long-term care workers (N = 15) transferred healthy adults using the transfer-assistive robot and subsequently reported the workload differences of manual care and the transfer-assistive robot, as measured by the Borg rating of the perceived exertion scale (RPE) and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). They also completed questionnaires on the usability of transfer-assistive robots and open-ended interviews. The RPE and NASA-TLX values for each task were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and descriptive statistics were used to calculate demographics and usability.

Results

The RPE scale indicated that the perceived physical burden was significantly reduced when using the transfer-assistive robot compared with the manual method. The robot-aided transfer method significantly reduced the physical demand in the NASA-TLX subscales. In the usability test, the averages for safety, operability, and satisfaction were all three points or higher, indicating a positive result.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that a transfer-assistive robot has the potential to reduce physical stress and the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in long-term care workers. This study shows that the robot is effective for long-term care workers suffering from the burden of the transferring/lifting action, emphasizing the need to introduce a transfer-assistive robot into the care field in South Korea.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Transfer-assistive robots are expected to alleviate the burden of transferring and lifting actions for long-term care workers.

• These results emphasize the need to introduce transfer-assistive robots in the care field.

• Ongoing attention to the usability study of transfer-assistive robots may be valuable in improving the work environment of long-term care workers and the quality of care services provided to care receivers.

Keywords:

• Care robot
• long-term care worker
• assistive technology
• workload
• usability
• transfer-assistive robot

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest is reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data supporting this study’s findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Kyung Hee University in 2019 (KHU-20190978).

Notes on contributors

Young Sun Kim

Young Sun Kim is a professor in the Department of Gerontology and director of the New Aging Research Institute at Kyung Hee University. Her current research interests include AgeTech-Service, empirical research on care robots, and aging policy.

Hye Ri Shin

Hye Ri Shin is an assistant professor in the Department of Gerontology at Kyung Hee University. Her current research interests include AgeTech-Service, empirical research of older adults, social policy, and long-term care.

Hee Jeong Yoon

Hee Jeong Yoon is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Gerontology at Kyung Hee University. Her current research interests include AgeTech-Service, empirical research on care robots, and senior technology adoption.

Si Woo Ban

Si Woo Ban is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Gerontology at Kyung Hee University. Her current research interests include AgeTech-Service, empirical research on care robots, and the silver economy.

Young Gi Kim

Young Gi Kim is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Gerontology at Kyung Hee University. His current research interests include long-term care and housing for older adults.

Kwang Wook Jung

Kwang Wook Jung is a professor at Kumi University and CEO of Man&tel. Co. Ltd. His current research interests include mobile communications, the development of high-tech educational equipment, rehabilitation medical equipment, and exercise equipment for the older adults.

Hyunki In

Hyunki In is a senior researcher at the Center for Healthcare Robotics in Korea Institute of Science and Technology. He is interested in the development of care robots and wearable robots designed to assist the disabled and older adults.