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Heterogeneity of Attitudes toward Robots in Healthcare among the Chinese Public: A Latent Profile Analysis

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  • Xuanyi Bi

    (Department of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Yu Gao

    (Department of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Erhong Sun

    (Department of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China)

  • Yan Yan

    (Department of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China)

  • Yimin Zhou

    (Department of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China)

  • Xuchun Ye

    (Department of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China)

Abstract

Attitudes are deemed critical psychological variables that can determine end users’ acceptance and adoption of robots. This study explored the heterogeneity of the Chinese public’s attitudes toward robots in healthcare and examined demographic characteristics associated with the derived profile membership. The data were collected from a sample of 428 Chinese who participated in an online survey. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct subgroups regarding attitudes toward robots—optimistic (36.9%), neutral (47.2%), and ambivalent (15.9%). Interestingly, although participants in the ambivalent attitude profile held more negative attitudes toward interaction with or social influence of healthcare robots, their attitudes tended to be positive when it came to emotional interactions with healthcare robots. All the respondents reported negative attitudes toward the social influence of healthcare robots. Multivariable regression analysis results showed that there were significant differences in age, education level, monthly income, experience with computers, experience with wearable devices, and whether to follow robot-related news or not. This study confirmed the heterogeneity of the Chinese public’s attitudes toward robots in healthcare and highlighted the importance of emotional interaction with and social influence of healthcare robots, which might facilitate a better understanding of the needs and expectations of potential end users for robots in healthcare to make them more acceptable in different situations.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:508-:d:1017927
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Rocío Llamas-Ramos & Juan Luis Sánchez-González & Inés Llamas-Ramos, 2022. "Robotic Systems for the Physiotherapy Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.
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    4. Lee, Sang Yup & Lee, Keeheon, 2018. "Factors that influence an individual's intention to adopt a wearable healthcare device: The case of a wearable fitness tracker," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 154-163.
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