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. 2022 Jan 21:9:20556683211072385.
doi: 10.1177/20556683211072385. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.

Facilitators and barriers to using telepresence robots in aged care settings: A scoping review

Lillian Hung  1 , Joey Wong  1 , Chelsea Smith  1 , Annette Berndt  2 , Mario Gregorio  2 , Neil Horne  2 , Lynn Jackson  2 , Jim Mann  2 , Mineko Wada  1 , Erika Young  1
Affiliations

Facilitators and barriers to using telepresence robots in aged care settings: A scoping review

Lillian Hung et al. J Rehabil Assist Technol Eng. .

Abstract

Social isolation has been a significant issue in aged care settings, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is associated with adverse outcomes, including loneliness, depression, and cognitive decline. While robotic assistance may help mitigate social isolation, it would be helpful to know how to adopt technology in aged care. This scoping review aims to explore facilitators and barriers to the implementation of telepresence robots in aged care settings. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology and the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews reporting guidelines, we searched relevant peer-reviewed studies through eight databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane, PsychINFO (EBSCO), Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library. Google was used to search gray literature, including descriptive, evaluative, quantitative, and qualitative designs. Eligibility includes: studies with people aged 65 years and older who interacted with a telepresence robot in a care setting, and articles written in English. We conducted a thematic analysis to summarize the evidence based on the constructs in the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research. Of 1183 articles retrieved, 13 were included in the final review. The analysis yielded three themes: relative advantages, perceived risks and problems, and contextual considerations. The key facilitators to telepresence robot adoption are as follows: a feeling of physical presence, ease of use, mobility, and training. The barriers to implementation are as follows: cost, privacy issues, internet connectivity, and workflow. Future research should investigate the role of leadership support in implementation and practical strategies to overcome barriers to technology adoption in aged care settings.

Keywords: Dementia; implementation; robots; technology; telepresence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Examples of telepresence robots. (a) Giraff, (b)Temi, (c) VGo, and (d) Double..
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
PRISMA flow diagram.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Percentage of healthcare settings utilized in the reviewed studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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