Aceitação do uso de robôs de serviço no cuidado e apoio às pessoas idosas

Abstract

Social service robots constitute an alternative solution for the care of elderly individuals. Their usage has become popular in several countries, especially those experiencing intensified shortages of healthcare human resources. However, this technology remains underexplored in Brazil. The objective of this study was to identify factors contributing to the acceptance of service robots in the care of elderly individuals in Brazilian households. To achieve this, three research stages were conducted using different methods. The first stage involved a bibliometric review to identify key research themes in literature concerning social service robots and elderly care. The second stage utilized a survey to assess acceptance and intention to use social service robots among a sample of potential users in Brazil, employing the adapted Service Robot Acceptance Model. The third stage comprised semi-structured interviews to delve deeper into issues regarding potential users' detailed impressions of service robot usage. Results revealed the intellectual framework of this literature organized into six clusters: (i) robot acceptance and design, (ii) social role and ethical values, (iii) barriers and criticism, (iv) effects, efficacy, and impact of robot use, (v) therapeutic use of robots, and (vi) perceptions of healthcare professionals and services, alongside a proposed future research agenda. In stage 2, data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling techniques, while interview data were subjected to Content Analysis. Findings confirm the Service Robot Acceptance Model within the context of elderly care, demonstrating high predictive capacity. Additionally, the value of social service robots was confirmed, emphasizing significant functional elements for elderly acceptance. Moreover, elderly individuals expressed an intention to use social service robots for emotional comfort. However, they did not perceive robots as real people capable of fully replacing human care, indicating the establishment of a relationship with emotional boundaries. This dissertation contributes to advancing research on the topic and supporting elderly care and support within the Brazilian national context.