A1 Journal article (refereed)
Care Workers’ Readiness for Robotization : Identifying Psychological and Socio-Demographic Determinants (2020)

Turja, T., Taipale, S., Kaakinen, M., & Oksanen, A. (2020). Care Workers’ Readiness for Robotization : Identifying Psychological and Socio-Demographic Determinants. International Journal of Social Robotics, 12(1), 79-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-019-00544-9

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Turja, Tuuli; Taipale, Sakari; Kaakinen, Markus; Oksanen, Atte

Journal or series: International Journal of Social Robotics

ISSN: 1875-4791

eISSN: 1875-4805

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 12

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 79–90

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-019-00544-9

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68263

Abstract

Successful implementation of robots in welfare services requires that the staff approves of them as a part of daily work tasks. In this study, we identified psychological and socio-demographic determinants associated with readiness for robotization among professional Finnish care-workers. National survey data were collected from professional care workers (n = 3800) between October and November 2016. Random samples were drawn from the member registers of two Finnish trade unions. The data were analyzed with regression models for respondents with and without firsthand experience with robots. The models explained 34–39% of the variance in the readiness for robotization. The readiness was positively associated with self-efficacy, perceived social norms, interest in technology, and perceived impacts on employment. It was also found that the readiness was less determined by age, gender, profession and job satisfaction among the respondents with firsthand robot experience. Among care workers with no experience with robots, older age and lower job satisfaction predicted a readiness for robotization. Care workers stand out as a distinctive group of potential service robot users, with their high confidence in using new technology and low job satisfaction predicting a higher readiness for robotization. Social norms among care workers emerged as an important factor in the readiness for robotization.

Keywords: care work; independent initiative; social norms; health care personnel; practical nurses; nurses; technological development; robots; readiness for change

Free keywords: change readiness; nurse; technological change

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1