Assessment of User Needs for Telemedicine Robots in a Developing Nation Hospital Setting

Background: This study aimed to investigate the needs of medical users of telemedicine robots to encourage international cooperation and development.

Introduction: As the use of telemedicine expands, it is necessary to develop new systems, including robots, which consider the perceived needs of end users to ensure quality of care and positive user experience.

Materials and Methods: A survey of medical staff was conducted at a hospital in Vietnam to investigate users’ needs for a telemedicine robot system.

Results: A total of 117 medical staff participated in the survey, comprising 74 nurses and 43 doctors. The most preferred type of robot was the humanoid type, female version, and the preferred mobility type was walking. The most requested functions were “heart rate measurement,” “recognition and avoidance of obstacles,” “oxygen saturation measurement,” “Transmitting Medical Information,” and “wireless system.” In addition, the most important considerations in developing a robot system were “cleaning the robot to prevent infection,” followed by “convenience of operation.”

Discussion: The results of this study largely supported those of similar previous studies. However, some differences may reflect the cultural variation or differences in the level of medical development across contexts.

Conclusion: To apply robotic systems to help develop telemedicine internationally, it is essential to develop a robot that reflects actual users’ needs. If relevant matters such as legal issues are considered and addressed, an appropriate robotic telemedicine system can be successfully developed. Consequently, telemedicine can improve the quality of local medical care, strengthen practitioner capacity, and improve outcomes.