Development of a multidimensional evaluation method for the use of a robotic companion as a function of care relationships

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study is to develop and test an evaluation method for the ACCOMPANY system, which consists of the Care-O-bot 3 robotic companion integrated into an intelligent environment to provide services to elderly end-users. The ACCOMPANY system has been designed to function from a reablement perspective to assist users in carrying out certain tasks for themselves in a motivating, socially acceptable and empathic manner. Method: A multidimensional evaluation protocol was designed based on the GEMSA 1 and HTA 2 grids that have recently been developed in Europe. The evaluation grid consists of five domains: acceptability of the robot by the users, ethics of the device, effectiveness, usefulness, and an economic model. Although an elderly person serves as the primary end-user of the robot in the use scenarios employed in the experiment, the evaluation was performed with a real-life triad of users consisting of an elderly person accompanied by one of their caregivers and one of their healthcare or social care workers. Such an approach is essential since the care relationship between the elderly person and their informal and professional caregivers provide the structure for the care provided to the elderly end-user. Three scenarios were evaluated based on a detailed user-needs study 3. The main scenario consists of three related tasks: initiating, when the robot notices the user has failed to drink enough fluids and reminds them to have a drink; monitoring, when the robot monitors to see if the user drinks something; and fetch and carry, where the robot brings a drink to the user. Results & Discussion: The method has been finalised and will be used with 10 real-life triads in a smart-home setting. The use of a real-life triad during the evaluation will be the key to understanding the effect of a robotic companion on the caregiving relationship.