Age, Motor Function, and Cognitive Function Influence Preferences for Telerehabilitation Mediated by a Social Robot Augmented With Telepresence

Social robot augmented telepresence (SRAT) is a potential approach to provide rehabilitative care to remote patients, while overcoming barriers to physical clinician-patient interaction. This study evaluated the preference of the subjects, stratified by age, motor impairment level and cognitive impairment level, for three modes of rehabilitation care delivery: face-to-face (FTF), classical telepresence (CT), and via social robot-augmented classical telepresence (SRAT). Forty-two participants completed the experiment that included assessments of upper-limb motor function and cognitive function followed by simulated rehabilitation interaction sessions, where the FTF interaction was the first, followed by CT and SRAT interactions in randomized order. Participants completed surveys on their impression and experience receiving simulated care in each mode. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression methods. Although in-person interaction (FTF) was the preferred option, 71% of subjects enjoyed and preferred SRAT over CT and this preference was mediated by age and severity of motor and cognitive impairment. Our analysis suggests that young children will rank SRAT above CT except for when they have severe cognitive impairment, adults will prefer SRAT less as their upper-limb impairment becomes more severe, and adults over 70 years old will prefer SRAT less if they have moderate to no upper-limb motor impairment and no cognitive impairment.