Informal caregivers’ attitudes towards care robots: A mixed methods systematic review

摘要

Care Robots (CR) is capable of performing a multitude of caregiving tasks, demonstrating potential in addressing the aging crisis. However, the implementation of CR faces challenges, and user attitudes are vital for implementation of CR. Informal caregivers (IC), who are the primary providers of care and bear the heavy burden of caregiving, are seldom studied in terms of their attitudes toward CR. To systematically review the ICs’ attitudes towards CR. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and IEEE Xplore were searched from inception to September 2024. Studies related to ICs’ attitudes towards CR were included. This review followed the methodology for mixed-methods reviews outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and employed a convergent integrated approach for this study. 34 studies were included, including six quantitative studies, eighteen qualitative studies and ten mixed methods studies. Following thematic analysis and synthesis, four broad analytic themes were identified for concept of CR, expectations of CR, facilitators and barriers to use CR, and ethical concerns of CR. ICs generally accepted the use of CR, but they also reported some concerns about using CR for implement. In order to support the safe, equitable, and people-oriented implementation of CR in the long-term care system, we propose consider the ICs’ attitudes to optimize CR, offer more technical support to IC, and find a way to balance the conflict of use right between IC and their care recipients in the use of CR. • This study assessed the attitudes of informal caregivers towards care robots through the application of mixed methods, providing a new perspective for the implementation of nursing robots. • This study identified informal caregivers' concepts, expectations, barriers to use, and ethical concerns regarding care robots. • Informal caregivers generally accepted the use of care robots, but they also reported some concerns about using care robots for implement. • Informal caregivers need technical, educational, policy and legal support.