Thriving with technology: Positive psychological well-being is associated with determinants of social robot acceptability among patients with heart failure
ABSTRACT
Background:
Social robots (SRs) are innovative tools in healthcare, offering both medical and psychological support for patients with heart failure (HF). For successful implementation, patient acceptability of SRs is crucial. Living in urban areas and lower comorbidity burden have been linked to higher acceptability but the role of psychological factors remains underexplored.
Objective:
To examine the associations between negative (e.g., depression, anxiety) and positive (e.g., optimism) psychological factors, and personality traits (e.g., openness, extraversion) with SR acceptability in patients with HF.
Methods:
Patients with HF watched brief videos about SRs and completed validated measures of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), positive psychological well-being (BIT), and personality traits (TIPI). Medical information was extracted from patients’ records. SR acceptability was assessed using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, smart technology experience, urbanicity, and comorbidities were conducted.
Results:
Of the 101 patients (35.6% female, mean age: 68 years), 23% scored in the clinical range for depression and 17% for anxiety. Well-being scores were moderate, and conscientiousness and agreeableness were most common. UTAUT behavioral intention was moderate; 69% of participants were likely to use an SR if available. Well-being scores correlated positively with SR acceptability in 4/5 UTAUT subscales. In the multiple regression models, higher BIT scores were associated with increased SR acceptability including, UTAUT effort expectancy (B = 0.20, p = .007), facilitating conditions (B = 0.15, p = .007), and social influence (B = 0.17, p = .036). The association with behavioral intention (B = 0.11, p = .069) did not reach statistical significance after adjustments.
Conclusions:
Psychological Well-being is independently associated with SR acceptability in patients with HF, while psychological distress and personality traits are not. These patient-level factors ought to be examined more closely before SR implementation.
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