Caregivers: Interview on Social Touch and Robotics

What We're Researching

We're running a paid study on the role of physical contact and social touch in the nursing field. Our goal is to understand daily caregiving routines and explore how human-to-human interaction might translate to human-robot interaction. This research will help define safe, comfortable, and effective uses for robotics in healthcare environments.

How It Works

You will participate in a remote interview to walk us through your typical caregiving routines. We will ask you to describe how physical contact plays a role in your daily interactions with patients. You will also review and react to conceptual scenarios involving assistive robots in care environments. Finally, you will provide feedback on where robotic assistance makes sense and where human touch remains irreplaceable.

Who This Is For

We welcome active nurses, professional caregivers, and nursing assistants with hands-on patient experience. Professionals working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, or home health care are highly encouraged to apply. A strong understanding of daily physical patient care and bedside routines is required to participate.

Responsibilities

• Describe your daily routine and physical interactions with patients
• Evaluate conceptual scenarios for human-robot interaction in caregiving
• Provide feedback on the emotional and practical aspects of social touch
• Discuss the boundaries between human care and automated assistance

Requirements

• Active professional in nursing or caregiving
• Direct experience with hands-on patient care and daily physical assistance
• Comfortable discussing bedside routines and patient interactions