As part of the3rd edition of Printemps de la Robotique, we discussed the acceptability of robots in healthcare establishments. Two speakers shared their experiences of actions taken to facilitate the acceptance of robots by nursing staff.
Both testimonials highlight the importance of analyzing the impact of the mobile robotics project upstream. Aurore Mayeux explains that an analysis tool has been set up to list all the changes impacting the various departments. “The aim is to put in place actions to welcome the projects in the best possible way”.
For their part, AP-HP explains that they began the project with a needs mapping and feasibility analysis to understand the limits of the solution. These tools and analyses, carried out upstream of the project, will serve as the basis for the action and communication plan.
The two plants deployed a wide range of resources to publicize the arrival of the robot, reaching out to those directly affected by the project, as well as to all employees and the general public.
CHwapi also explains that it has organized “construction site days” open to employees and the general public, to visit the new hospital currently under construction and find out about the projects relating to this new building.
The AP-HP asked Meanwhile teams to demonstrate one of their robots in the hospital. Users were able to test the robotic solution in real-life conditions.
Another example of an event was mentioned at the conference. The Reims University Hospital organized a two-day showroom to present the new technologies used in the new building (connected changing rooms and other logistics tools, etc.). Numerous suppliers were able to exchange ideas with employees.
Both testimonials describe the importance of integrating and involving teams in the mobile robot project. Several ways of achieving this were mentioned:
Following these two testimonials, Eva Borisov, Health Project Manager at Meanwhile, explained the need to choose a “User Friendly” mobile robotics solution.
UX, or User Experience, refers to the quality of the user’s experience in any situation involving interaction. It qualifies the overall experience felt when manipulating an interface, a technological device or, more broadly, any device or service. It plays an essential role in the way collaborative robots are perceived. Indeed, it can create distrust if, for example, the robot’s physique is too similar to that of a human.
Meanwhile, out of conviction, preferred to distance the design of its collaborative mobile robots from the human being to avoid any ambiguity. Indeed, the AMR remains a machine. However, it is important for the UX that the design of the robot is pleasant and friendly. Meanwhile cobots are therefore designed in their entirety (design, man-machine interface, etc.) to ensure that the user feels safe and confident when close to the robot.
What’s more, whether visually (via screens, indicator lights…), sonically (alarms, recorded voices…) or haptically (force feedback, vibrations…), cobots and operators must constantly exchange a variety of information to ensure efficient, continuous collaboration over time. This is where ergonomics and design come into play, as they are essentially user-centered. They have a major influence on ease of use, with, for example, a simple and intuitive screen interface, strategically positioned stop buttons, etc., but also on the notion of user-friendliness. But also on the notion of user-friendliness, affordance and, in general, they favor the greatest transparency and rapidity in communication between the two partners.
In the case of AP-HP, Shaedah Djiavoudine emphasized the importance of gathering user experience. They then identified the advantages and disadvantages of the robot’s implementation, which made it possible to pinpoint sticking points. Difficulties were identified, such as elevator blockages, or the need for employees to adapt to new working methods.
“Acceptability should never be taken for granted.”
To maintain this acceptability, it is necessary to train staff in the operation of the robot. Several types of training have been proposed to the AP-HP to train at different levels (expert – advanced – user). A series of tutorial videos have also been submitted to CHwapi to learn how to operate the robot.
Finally, given the turnover in healthcare establishments, we need to offer easy-to-use solutions to encourage “self-training”.
In conclusion, the key to success in facilitating robot acceptability in a healthcare establishment is to clarify the project’s objective in response to a real need, which, in this case, is to save time for the caregiver.
For more details on these testimonials, feel free to watch the replay of the conference:
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