Caregiver’s experiences in caring for disabled persons using feeding assistive robots

Abstract

Purpose In Korea, it is most speed that aging of the disabled persons compared with other OECD countries (Statistics Korea, 2020), and insufficient caregiver has been becoming a problem (Limet al, 2019). To solve these problems, not only Korea but also the countries which are facing a similar situation are interested in the care robot technology (Kim, 2019). The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the experiences of caregivers who cared for disabled persons using feeding assistive robots. Method The participants were 20 caregivers (family members, care workers, carers, or nurses) of long-term care facilities or communities, in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. After the participants used the feeding assistive robot for 7 days, interviewed about perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, need for improvements and behavioral intention of meal assistance robot based on The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Used of Technology (UTAUT). Data was analyzed using the content analysis method. Results and Discussion The results, in the positive opinions, there were ‘the favorable receptions of care robot technology’, ‘meal care assistance burden relief’, ‘physical burden relief’, ‘hope for the improvements the care robot technology’ and so on, and in the negative opinions, there were ‘dissatisfactions about care robot technology’, ‘too high price’, ‘increase in psychological burden’, ‘difficult due to care receiver’s problem’, ‘negative response from care receivers or co-worker’, ‘increase in psychological burden’ and so on. This study suggests that the opinions from caregivers who are care robot’s users are needs to be reflected at the develop and supply stages.

References

Statistics Korea(2020). 2020 Statistics on the Aged.

Lim Jeongmi, Lee Yunkyung, Kang Eunna, Lim Jiyoung, Kim Juhang, Park Youngsook, Yoon Taehyung, Yang Chanmi, Kim Hyesoo(2019). A Mid- to Long-term Plan for the Supply of Long-term Care Workers in a Changing Population       Structure. Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs

Kim Youngsun(2019). Current State and Development Directions for Dementia Care Technology. Health and welfare. Policy Form, 276, 42-57

Keywords: care robot, meal assistance robot, care burden, content analysis

Address: School of Nursing, Hanyang University, KR

Email: ysshin2k@hanyang.ac.kr

Acknowledgement This paper is a research project (HK21C0008) funded by the Korean Health Industry Development Institute with the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea.