Clinicians' Perceptions and Potential Applications of Robotics for Task Automation in Critical Care: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND

Interest in integrating robotics within intensive care units (ICUs) has been propelled by technological advancements, workforce challenges, and heightened clinical demands, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. The integration of robotics in ICUs could potentially enhance patient care and operational efficiency amid existing challenges faced by health care professionals, including high workload and decision-making complexities.

OBJECTIVE

This qualitative study aimed to explore ICU clinicians' perceptions of robotic technology and to identify the types of tasks that might benefit from robotic assistance. We focused on the degree of acceptance, perceived challenges, and potential applications for improving patient care in 5 Southeastern US hospitals between January and August 2023.

METHODS

A qualitative study through semistructured interviews and questionnaires was conducted with 15 ICU clinicians (7 nurses, 6 physicians, and 2 advanced practice providers) from 5 hospitals in the Southeast United States. Directed content analysis was used to categorize and interpret participants' statements, with statistical tests used to examine any role-based differences in how they viewed robotic integration.

RESULTS

Among the 15 participants, 73% (11/15) were female, with an average of 6.4 (SD 6.3) years of ICU experience. We identified 78 distinct tasks potentially suitable for robotic assistance, of which 50 (64%) involved direct patient care (eg, repositioning patients and assisting with simple procedures), 19 (24%) concerned indirect patient care (eg, delivering supplies and cleaning), 6 (8%) addressed administrative tasks (eg, answering call lights), and 3 (4%) were classified as mixed direct and indirect (eg, sitting with a patient to keep them calm). Most participants supported the automation of routine, noncritical tasks (eg, responding to nurse calls and measuring glucose levels), viewing this strategy as a way to alleviate workload and enhance efficiency. Conversely, high-complexity tasks requiring nuanced clinical judgment (eg, ventilator settings) were deemed unsuitable for full automation. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in how nurses, physicians, and advanced practice providers perceived these tasks (P=.22).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate a significant opportunity to use robotic systems to perform noncomplex tasks in ICUs, thereby potentially improving efficiency and reducing staff burden. Clinicians largely view robots as supportive tools rather than substitutes for human expertise. However, concerns persist regarding privacy, patient safety, and the loss of human touch, particularly for tasks requiring high-level clinical decision-making. Future research should involve broader, more diverse clinician samples and investigate the long-term impact of robotic assistance on patient outcomes while also incorporating patient perspectives to ensure ethical, patient-centered adoption of robotic technology.