National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, H91 E3YV, Ireland.
University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland.
BMC Geriatr. 2022 May 27;22(1):457. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03150-z.
Pet robots have been employed as viable substitutes to pet therapy in nursing homes. Despite their potential to enhance the psychosocial health of residents with dementia, there is a lack of studies that have investigated determinants of implementing pet robots in real-world practice. This study aims to explore the determinants of implementing pet robots for dementia care in nursing homes, from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and organisational leaders.
A descriptive qualitative study, conceptualised and guided using the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR), was conducted. We conducted semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals and organisational leaders from nursing homes. Data was transcribed and analysed using Framework Analysis, based on the CFIR as an a priori framework.
A total of 22 participants from eight nursing homes were included. Determinants were mapped to constructs from all five CFIR domains. Determinants relating to the characteristics of pet robots include their design, realisticness and interactivity, affordability, cleanability, perceived evidence strength and comparative advantages to live pets. Determinants relating to external influences (outer setting) include national regulatory guidelines, funding and networks with other organisations. With regards to characteristics of nursing homes (inner setting), determinants include the relevance of pet robots in relation to the needs of residents with dementia, alignment with care processes, infection control mandates and their relative priority. In the domain 'characteristics of individuals', determinants were associated with individuals' beliefs on the role of technology, desires to enhance residents' quality of life, and differential attitudes on the use of robots. Finally, in the domain 'implementation process', assessments and care planning were identified as determinants.
Overall, while sentiments around determinants within CFIR domains of pet robots' characteristics, outer setting and implementation process were similar, participants' opinions on the determinants within the 'inner setting' and 'characteristics of individuals' were more varied. This could be due to different organisational structures, disciplinary differences and personal experiences of using pet robots. Many determinants in different domains were interrelated. Findings provide a springboard for identifying and designing implementation strategies to guide the translation of pet robots from research into real-world practice.
宠物机器人已被用作养老院宠物疗法的可行替代品。尽管它们有可能提高痴呆症患者的社会心理健康,但缺乏研究调查在现实实践中实施宠物机器人的决定因素。本研究旨在从医疗保健专业人员和组织领导者的角度探讨在养老院实施宠物机器人护理痴呆症的决定因素。
使用实施研究综合框架(CFIR)进行概念化和指导的描述性定性研究。我们对来自养老院的医疗保健专业人员和组织领导者进行了半结构化访谈。根据 CFIR 作为先验框架,使用框架分析对数据进行转录和分析。
共有来自 8 家养老院的 22 名参与者入选。决定因素被映射到 CFIR 所有五个领域的结构中。与宠物机器人特征相关的决定因素包括其设计、逼真性和互动性、可负担性、清洁性、感知证据强度和与活体宠物的比较优势。与外部影响(外部环境)相关的决定因素包括国家监管指南、资金以及与其他组织的网络联系。关于养老院的特点(内部环境),决定因素包括宠物机器人与痴呆症患者需求的相关性、与护理流程的一致性、感染控制要求以及它们的相对优先级。在“个人特征”领域,决定因素与个人对技术作用的信念、提高居民生活质量的愿望以及对机器人使用的不同态度有关。最后,在“实施过程”领域,评估和护理计划被确定为决定因素。
总体而言,虽然 CFIR 宠物机器人特征、外部环境和实施过程领域的决定因素情绪相似,但参与者对“内部环境”和“个人特征”领域的决定因素的看法更加多样化。这可能是由于不同的组织结构、学科差异和使用宠物机器人的个人经验。不同领域的许多决定因素相互关联。研究结果为确定和设计实施策略提供了基础,以指导宠物机器人从研究转化为现实实践。