Running head: ROBOTS IN HEALTHCARE 1

Robots: The Almost Perfect Health Care Assistant

Mitzi B. Guevara

New Student Orientation

Professor Tennille Gifford, RN MSN

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Abstract

This paper will describe the advantages of using robots in health care, while at the same

time highlighting that robots cannot replace humans completely in all tasks. Robots can support

healthcare in many ways.

Keywords: robots, rocial robot, robotics, health technology, innovation

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Robots: The Almost Perfect Health Care Assistant

Development of artificial intelligence is an industry worth investing time and money in

now more than ever, as it is helping patients manage their health care. A robot can now serve

as a therapeutic assistant for chronic disease management, a robot can bring medical care to

remote areas where medical professionals are not available, a robot can lighten the workload

of medical staff and caregivers by doing the repetitive tasks such as delivering meals to patients

or sanitizing room to just name a few advantages of what robots can already do for the medical

field. In this paper I will outline how robots are currently making a positive impact in healthcare

and I will also describe scenarios where robots cannot help.

Recent studies around the world have demonstrated that robots used as social

companions are helping people better manage their chronic diseases this is due to robots

motivating patients to comply with their health treatments (Sinoo, et al., 2018). Sartorato et. al

‘s article provide supporting literature on how social robots are being effective in improving

social skills and communication in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Satorato, et

al., 2017). According to Sortorato’s findings, robots, when used as a therapy tool for children

with ASD, appear to be more effective than other kinds of therapy in decreasing social anxiety,

producing more speech overall, increasing engagement, eliciting emotional reactions and

attracting more gaze (Satorato, et al., 2017). Examples of robots that are out there right now

being used as social robots can be found under the following names: Robota, KASPAR, Tito, and

Keepon (Sinoo, et al., 2018).

Social robots are effective in helping children with diabetes to support their diabetes

self-management . Studies show that children are capable of feeling connected to a robot
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agent, and therefore as friendship with the social robot increases, so does the motivation to

play and learn also increase, resulting in a learned and improved diabetes self-management

(Sinoo, et al., 2018). A few examples of robots that are currently being used as educators and

motivators for children to learn diabetes self-management are ALIZ-E Project and PAL project

(Sinoo, et al., 2018). Robots are revolutionizing the care industry and are benefiting those most

in need. Other empathic robots that come with cameras and microphones are providing

companionship and assisting people who suffer from mental health illnesses and helping the

aging patient population (Crawford, 2017). Examples of the latter are therapeutic robots such

as Jibo, Pepper, Paro and Buddy (Crawford, 2017). These robots are helping people live a better

quality of life.

Interest in social robots continues to grow and development teams continue to build

better models, however, scholars still question when robots can and cannot help in healthcare.

Bedaf et. al conducted a qualitative focus group study that collected point of views from 113

individuals involved in home health care, results from this study revealed that most people

believe that not all tasks need a robotic solution (Bedaf, et al., 2013). General consensus is that

tasks should not be done by robots when there are more affordable solutions available,

whether it be simpler technology or human care (Bedaf, et al., 2013). Some of the individuals in

the study voiced they valued social interaction more than receiving support from a robot

(Bedaf, et al., 2013). Other scholars in other studies argue that delicate and complex care items

such as showering, toileting and getting dressed should remain under human responsibility and

not be delegated to a robot, reason being that robots lack judgement and empathy (Lehoux and

Grimard, 2018).
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Current studies and general public opinions promote robotic and artificial intelligence to

be used in health care. Based on the review of scholarly articles and web resources on this

topic, there are more known advantages than disadvantages for the use of social robots

assisting patients with their health care needs. This paper provided examples of how robots are

currently contributing to the health care of humans, making them the almost perfect medical

assistant.
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References

Bedaf, S., Gelderblom, G. J., Syrdal, D. S., Lehmann, H., Michel, H., Hewson, D., . . . Witte, L.
D. (2013). Which activities threaten independent living of elderly when becoming
problematic: Inspiration for meaningful service robot functionality. Disability and
Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology,9(6), 445-452. doi:10.3109/17483107.2013.840861

Crawford, M. (2017, April 20). Top 6 Robotic Applications in Medicine. Retrieved May 17,
2019, from https://aabme.asme.org/posts/top-6-robotic-applications-in-medicine

Lehoux, P., & Grimard, D. (2018). When robots care: Public deliberations on how technology
and humans may support independent living for older aldults. Social Science &
Medicine,211(06), 038th ser., 330-337. Retrieved May 17, 2019.

Sartorato, F., Przybylowski, L., & Sarko, D. K. (2017). Improving therapeutic outcomes in
autism spectrum disorders: Enhancing social communication and sensory processing
through the use of interactive robots. Journal of Psychiatric Research,90, 1-11.
doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.02.004

Sinoo, C., Pal, S. V., Henkemans, O. A., Keizer, A., Bierman, B. P., Looije, R., & Neerincx, M. A.
(2018). Friendship with a robot: Children’s perception of similarity between a robot’s
physical and virtual embodiment that supports diabetes self-management. Patient
Education and Counseling,101(7), 1248-1255. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2018.02.008

The Medical, F. (2016, August 13). Robotics in Healthcare - Get Ready! Retrieved May 17,
2019, from https://medicalfuturist.com/robotics-healthcare