Assistive Technology Research Team for Independent Living, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
Department of Rehabilitative & Assistive Technology, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
Assist Technol. 2023 Jul 4;35(4):292-301. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2022.2038307. Epub 2022 Feb 24.
The population of Korea is aging rapidly, and this has led to a care burden for caregivers. Without adequate caregivers to address the increased burden, people with significant disabilities and older adults with disabilities who have greatly reduced mobility are at risk. The aim of this study was to determine suitable types of care robots for care applications in Korea and formulate a strategy for a future care robot R&D plan through a user participation study. We categorized nine types of care robots that are suitable for the care needs in Korea. By adopting a mixed research methodology involving user participation, we conducted discussions with caregivers, care receivers, and other stakeholders under a public-private-people partnership model. We also identified five primary strategies for care robot R&D: (1) intensive investment to match the needs of people with very severe disabilities to care robot technologies, particularly for transfer, repositioning, toileting, and feeding; (2) translational research and technology development; (3) realization of smart-care through fourth industrial revolution (i.e., digital) technologies; (4) user-centered research with stakeholders; and (5) building of a care robot ecosystem. The formulated plan would be shared with other developers and clinical experts to drive development of suitable care robots.
韩国人口老龄化迅速，这给照顾者带来了沉重的负担。如果没有足够的照顾者来应对增加的负担，那么身体有重大残疾的人和行动不便的残疾老年人就会面临风险。本研究旨在通过用户参与研究，确定适合韩国护理应用的护理机器人类型，并制定未来护理机器人研发计划的策略。我们将九种适合韩国护理需求的护理机器人进行了分类。通过采用用户参与的混合研究方法，我们在公私民伙伴关系模式下与照顾者、护理接受者和其他利益相关者进行了讨论。我们还确定了护理机器人研发的五项主要策略：（1）集中投资以满足非常严重残疾人士对护理机器人技术的需求，特别是在转移、重新定位、如厕和喂食方面；（2）转化研究和技术开发；（3）通过第四次工业革命（即数字）技术实现智能护理；（4）与利益相关者进行以用户为中心的研究；以及（5）建立护理机器人生态系统。制定的计划将与其他开发者和临床专家共享，以推动适合的护理机器人的开发。
