Hofstetter Sebastian, Müller Pascal, Behr Dominik, Thal Suenye, Komiya Motoaki, Dowiasch Stefan, Jahn Patrick
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Medicine Halle (Saale), Health Service Research Working Group | Acute Care, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Cyberdyne Care Robotics GmbH Hunscheidtstr, Bochum, Germany.
Front Digit Health. 2025 Aug 18;7:1591866. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2025.1591866. eCollection 2025.
Lower back pain (LBP) is one of the most common occupational health issues among healthcare professionals, particularly in long-term care settings. The HAL® Lumbar Type Exoskeleton is a wearable assistive technology designed to reduce strain on the lower back during physically demanding care activities. However, evidence regarding its feasibility, usability, and acceptance in real-world long-term care settings remains limited.
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and user acceptance of the HAL® Lumbar Type Exoskeleton in long-term care facilities. Specifically, the study assesses whether the exoskeleton can reduce self-reported lower back pain and improve the ergonomic conditions for caregivers.
This is a non-randomized, exploratory interventional feasibility study using a mixed-methods design. A total of 30 caregivers from two long-term care facilities will participate in a 90-day intervention. The exoskeleton will be integrated into daily care routines, and caregivers will undergo training on its proper use.
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain assessment before and after using the exoskeleton. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) at baseline (T1), mid-study (T2), and post-intervention (T3). Qualitative methods include semi-structured interviews with eight caregivers, exploring usability, perceived benefits, and barriers to adoption.
Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, repeated measures ANOVA, and thematic content analysis for qualitative data. Findings will inform future studies on integrating wearable assistive technologies into caregiving workflows.
This study will provide essential insights into the feasibility and usability of exoskeletons in long-term care, potentially contributing to improved ergonomic conditions and caregiver well-being.
下背痛（LBP）是医疗保健专业人员中最常见的职业健康问题之一，尤其是在长期护理环境中。HAL®腰椎型外骨骼是一种可穿戴辅助技术，旨在在体力要求较高的护理活动中减轻下背部的压力。然而，关于其在实际长期护理环境中的可行性、可用性和接受度的证据仍然有限。
本研究旨在评估HAL®腰椎型外骨骼在长期护理机构中的可行性、可用性和用户接受度。具体而言，该研究评估外骨骼是否可以减轻自我报告的下背痛，并改善护理人员的人体工程学条件。
这是一项采用混合方法设计的非随机、探索性干预可行性研究。来自两个长期护理机构的30名护理人员将参与为期90天的干预。外骨骼将被整合到日常护理工作中，护理人员将接受关于其正确使用的培训。
使用外骨骼前后用于疼痛评估的视觉模拟量表（VAS）。在基线（T1）、研究中期（T2）和干预后（T3）的Oswestry功能障碍指数（ODI）和简短健康调查问卷（SF-8）。定性方法包括对八名护理人员进行半结构化访谈，探讨可用性、感知到的益处和采用障碍。
将使用描述性统计、重复测量方差分析和定性数据的主题内容分析来分析数据。研究结果将为未来关于将可穿戴辅助技术整合到护理工作流程中的研究提供信息。
本研究将提供关于外骨骼在长期护理中的可行性和可用性的重要见解，可能有助于改善人体工程学条件和护理人员的福祉。
