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Social Telepresence Robots: A Narrative Review of Experiments Involving Older Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Baptiste Isabet

    (EA 4468, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France
    AP-HP, Hôpital Broca, 75013 Paris, France)

  • Maribel Pino

    (EA 4468, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France
    AP-HP, Hôpital Broca, 75013 Paris, France)

  • Manon Lewis

    (School of Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK)

  • Samuel Benveniste

    (EA 4468, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France
    AP-HP, Hôpital Broca, 75013 Paris, France
    CEN Stimco, 75013 Paris, France)

  • Anne-Sophie Rigaud

    (EA 4468, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France
    AP-HP, Hôpital Broca, 75013 Paris, France)

Abstract

Social isolation is a common phenomenon among the elderly. Retirement, widowhood, and increased prevalence of chronic diseases in this age group lead to a decline in social relationships, which in turn has adverse consequences on health and well-being. The coronavirus COVID-19 crisis worsened this situation, raising interest for mobile telepresence robots (MTR) that would help create, maintain, and strengthen social relationships. MTR are tools equipped with a camera, monitor, microphone, and speaker, with a body on wheels that allows for remote-controlled and sometimes autonomous movement aiming to provide easy access to assistance and networking services. We conducted a narrative review of literature describing experimental studies of MTR involving elderly people over the last 20 years, including during the COVID-19 period. The aim of this review was to examine whether MTR use was beneficial for reducing loneliness and social isolation among older adults at home and in health and care institutions and to examine the current benefits and barriers to their use and implementation. We screened 1754 references and included 24 research papers focusing on the usability, acceptability, and effectiveness of MTR. News reports on MTR use during the COVID-19 period were also examined. A qualitative, multidimensional analysis methodology inspired by a health technology assessment model was used to identify facilitating and limiting factors and investigate if and how MTR could reduce social isolation in elderly people. Reviewed studies provide encouraging evidence that MTR have potential in this regard, as experiments report positive feedback on MTR design and core functionalities. However, our analysis also points to specific technical, ergonomic, and ethical challenges that remain to be solved, highlighting the need for further multidimensional research on the design and impact of MTR interventions for older adults and building on new insights gained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Baptiste Isabet & Maribel Pino & Manon Lewis & Samuel Benveniste & Anne-Sophie Rigaud, 2021. "Social Telepresence Robots: A Narrative Review of Experiments Involving Older Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3597-:d:527007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Williams, Tracy & May, Carl & Mair, Frances & Mort, Maggie & Gask, Linda, 2003. "Normative models of health technology assessment and the social production of evidence about telehealth care," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 39-54, April.
    2. Patrick Peretti-Watel, 2006. "Lien social et santé en situation de précarité : état de santé, recours aux soins, abus d'alcool et réseau relationnel parmi les usagers des services d'aide," Économie et Statistique, Programme National Persée, vol. 391(1), pages 115-130.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xuanyi Bi & Yu Gao & Erhong Sun & Yan Yan & Yimin Zhou & Xuchun Ye, 2022. "Heterogeneity of Attitudes toward Robots in Healthcare among the Chinese Public: A Latent Profile Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Merdin-Uygur, Ezgi & Ozturkcan, Selcen, 2023. "Consumers and service robots: Power relationships amid COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    3. Nicola Döring & Melisa Conde & Karlheinz Brandenburg & Wolfgang Broll & Horst-Michael Gross & Stephan Werner & Alexander Raake, 2022. "Can Communication Technologies Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older People? A Scoping Review of Reviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Vivian Welch & Elizabeth T. Ghogomu & Victoria I. Barbeau & Sierra Dowling & Rebecca Doyle & Ella Beveridge & Elisabeth Boulton & Payaam Desai & Jimmy Huang & Nour Elmestekawy & Tarannum Hussain & Arp, 2023. "Digital interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(4), December.

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