Table 2.
Detailed results of the Users’ Needs, Requirements and Abilities Questionnaire.
| Area of the questionnaire | Total, mean (SD) | Caregivers, mean (SD) | Older adults, mean (SD) | P value | |||||
| A: Interaction of the robot and technical issues | |||||||||
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A1 The robot should be a companion of the older person | 3.7 (1.3) | 3.6 (1.0) | 3.9 (1.5) | .009 | ||||
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A2 The robot should be an assistant of the older person | 4.1 (1.1) | 4.0 (1.0) | 4.4 (1.2) | .003 | ||||
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A3 The robot should be a useful device of the older person (something to be used when needed, with no other interaction) | 4.4 (0.9) | 4.3 (0.9) | 4.5 (1.0) | .15 | ||||
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A4 Older adults are prepared to interact with a robot | 2.2 (1.1) | 2.2 (1.0) | 2.3 (1.3) | .86 | ||||
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A5 Older adults are able to manage with the robot | 2.6 (1.3) | 2.7 (1.1) | 2.5 (1.4) | .39 | ||||
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A6 Older adults want to increase their knowledge about robots to be able to operate them | 3.5 (1.2) | 3.3 (1.0) | 3.7 (1.4) | .049 | ||||
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A7 The robot should instruct the older person what to do in case of a problem with its operation | 4.6 (0.8) | 4.4 (0.8) | 4.8 (0.7) | .006 | ||||
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A8 The robot should be customizable (adjusted to individual user preferences and needs) | 4.7 (0.7) | 4.7 (0.5) | 4.6 (0.8) | .82 | ||||
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A9 Older adults should be able to choose the functions of the robot they want to use and disable other ones | 4.4 (0.8) | 4.2 (0.8) | 4.6 (0.8) | .003 | ||||
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A10 If the robot has been switched off by the owner, it should reactivate automatically (after a specific period), so that it is not forgotten in off mode | 4.4 (0.9) | 4.2 (0.9) | 4.6 (0.9) | .004 | ||||
| B: Assistive role of the robot | |||||||||
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B1 The robot should increase the safety of the older adult’s home (eg, locking doors, detecting leaking gas) | 4.8 (0.6) | 4.7 (0.5) | 4.9 (0.6) | .001 | ||||
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B2 The robot should help the older adult preserve their memory function (eg, by playing memory games with them) | 4.6 (0.7) | 4.6 (0.5) | 4.7 (0.9) | .07 | ||||
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B3 The robot should encourage and guide older adults to perform physical exercises | 4.6 (0.8) | 4.5 (0.7) | 4.7 (0.8) | .06 | ||||
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B4 The robot should provide advice about a healthy diet | 4.3 (1.0) | 4.2 (0.9) | 4.4 (1.0) | .06 | ||||
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B5 The robot should monitor the environment (temperature, humidity) and suggest air conditioning adjustment or windows opening | 4.5 (0.9) | 4.5 (0.7) | 4.6 (1.0) | .15 | ||||
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B6 The robot should measure the physiological parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature) of the older person | 4.6 (0.9) | 4.5 (0.6) | 4.7 (1.1) | .002 | ||||
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B7 The robot should monitor the amount of food and fluid intake of the owner | 4.2 (1.0) | 4.2 (0.9) | 4.3 (1.1) | .45 | ||||
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B8 The robot should remind older adults about appointments | 4.5 (0.8) | 4.5 (0.6) | 4.4 (1.0) | .38 | ||||
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B9 The robot should remind older adults about medication | 4.6 (0.7) | 4.6 (0.6) | 4.6 (0.9) | .30 | ||||
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B10 The robot should remind older adults about meal times and drinking | 4.3 (1.1) | 4.5 (0.8) | 4.1 (1.3) | .30 | ||||
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B11 The robot should observe the behavior of the older person to detect falls or changes due to illness | 4.6 (0.7) | 4.5 (0.6) | 4.7 (0.7) | .03 | ||||
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B12 The robot should call the center in case of emergency | 4.9 (0.5) | 4.8 (0.4) | 4.9 (0.6) | .11 | ||||
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B13 The robot should help the owner find lost objects (eg, glasses, keys) | 4.7 (0.6) | 4.6 (0.6) | 4.8 (0.7) | .04 | ||||
| C: Social aspects of using the robot | |||||||||
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C1 The robot could decrease the sense of loneliness and improve the mood of the older person | 4.2 (1.0) | 4.0 (0.9) | 4.4 (1.0) | .003 | ||||
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C2 The robot could encourage older adults to enhance their contacts with friends | 4.2 (0.9) | 4.1 (0.8) | 4.3 (1.0) | .05 | ||||
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C3 The robot should initiate contacts with others (calling friends, initiating Skype conversations) | 4.4 (0.7) | 4.2 (0.7) | 4.6 (0.8) | <.001 | ||||
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C4 The robot should have entertainment functions (eg, gaming partner, reading aloud, or playing music function) | 4.4 (0.8) | 4.5 (0.6) | 4.4 (1.0) | .29 | ||||
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C5 The robot should detect the owner’s mood (facial expression) | 4.1 (1.1) | 3.9 (1.0) | 4.3 (1.1) | .01 | ||||
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C6 The robot should accompany the owner in everyday activities (watching TV, preparing meals) | 3.8 (1.2) | 3.6 (1.1) | 4.1 (1.3) | .005 | ||||
| D: Ethical issues | |||||||||
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D1 The older person should have control over the robot | 4.4 (0.9) | 4.2 (0.8) | 4.6 (0.9) | .003 | ||||
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D2 The older person should be able to send the robot to its place/docking station and keep it there | 4.4 (0.9) | 4.3 (0.8) | 4.5 (1.0) | .14 | ||||
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D3 It is acceptable that the robot informs a family member or caregiver about the older person’s behavior/health problems | 4.5 (0.7) | 4.4 (0.7) | 4.7 (0.7) | <.003 | ||||
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D4 The older person should be able to switch off the robot in specific situations (eg, friends’ visits, privacy reasons) | 4.4 (1.0) | 4.3 (0.9) | 4.5 (1.1) | .01 | ||||
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D5 It is acceptable that the robot will obtain substantial information about the user (social, medical, others) | 4.1 (1.1) | 4.0 (1.0) | 4.2 (1.2) | .03 | ||||