utilizing IT, AI, or robot technology and to realize new value through healthcare
innovation.
Here, we will present perspectives on the focus of this chapter, healthcare
innovation for providing psychological care to CHRs/DUs using communication
robots, and discuss relationships between the subjects and factors involved. To
begin, CHWs are the individuals responsible for care. They are influenced by social
and institutional environmental factors. At the same time, they are affected by the
organization for which they work and asked to abide by requests to provide highquality, individualized service to CHRs/DUs and increase productivity and efficiency. Further, they recognize the services needed in the settings in which service
is provided through communication with CHRs/DUs.
In order to further advance psychological care, in addition to conventional care
technologies, it is necessary to consider what and how to advance in new ways.
Accordingly, technologies developed by private companies or research institutions
(i.e., IT, AI, and robots) are being incorporated into demonstration experiments and
methods of use examined. Facial expression analysis software is being introduced as
a new method for scientifically measuring the effects of robot use. Evaluations of
communication robot use are being gathered through verbal and nonverbal information from CHRs/DUs in real time. It is necessary to generate information about how
to combine humans and things in the context of healthcare activities for healthcare
innovation in this way through the verification of optimal methods of use for new
tools (communication robots) and the accumulation of empirical research by
collecting new data and using new analysis tools (Facial expression analysis software). Based on this kind of trial and error in the field, new effective initiatives will
lead to the establishment of care methods that can be implemented as routine
activities in real settings.
Below, we will discuss this in more depth. An increasing population in need of
caregiving and a shortage of labor are environmental factors surrounding caregiving
establishments in Japan that lead to magnification of the workload on CHW in the
field. Further, an increase in the number of CHRs/DUs with dementia is linked to an
increase in individualized care and a larger communication workload.
Evaluation based on economizing due to the demand for increased operational
efficiency and productivity is emphasized as an organizational factor for caregiving
establishments. This type of evaluation risks inhibiting hospitality, the basis of
service. Past participant observation performed in caregiving settings captured
behaviors toward CHRs/DUs such as urging them to avoid unnecessary conversation and focus on eating or not answering when asked the name of a flower in front of
them. Nonetheless, psychological care for CHRs/DUs is also essential.
Human activities provided by humans form the foundation of care. However,
technology is becoming the basis for service-providing organizations (Sandfort,
2009). As previously discussed, technologies can be identified based on “what
service providers do” and “how they do it” (Smith, 2009, p. 431). As caregiving
service is fundamentally user-oriented, it is important that it be guided by what is
being provided in what way while utilizing healthcare technology in accordance with
the user’s psychological and physical status. Just as “technical skills” (clinical
52
Y. Ikeda et al.
innovation.
Here, we will present perspectives on the focus of this chapter, healthcare
innovation for providing psychological care to CHRs/DUs using communication
robots, and discuss relationships between the subjects and factors involved. To
begin, CHWs are the individuals responsible for care. They are influenced by social
and institutional environmental factors. At the same time, they are affected by the
organization for which they work and asked to abide by requests to provide highquality, individualized service to CHRs/DUs and increase productivity and efficiency. Further, they recognize the services needed in the settings in which service
is provided through communication with CHRs/DUs.
In order to further advance psychological care, in addition to conventional care
technologies, it is necessary to consider what and how to advance in new ways.
Accordingly, technologies developed by private companies or research institutions
(i.e., IT, AI, and robots) are being incorporated into demonstration experiments and
methods of use examined. Facial expression analysis software is being introduced as
a new method for scientifically measuring the effects of robot use. Evaluations of
communication robot use are being gathered through verbal and nonverbal information from CHRs/DUs in real time. It is necessary to generate information about how
to combine humans and things in the context of healthcare activities for healthcare
innovation in this way through the verification of optimal methods of use for new
tools (communication robots) and the accumulation of empirical research by
collecting new data and using new analysis tools (Facial expression analysis software). Based on this kind of trial and error in the field, new effective initiatives will
lead to the establishment of care methods that can be implemented as routine
activities in real settings.
Below, we will discuss this in more depth. An increasing population in need of
caregiving and a shortage of labor are environmental factors surrounding caregiving
establishments in Japan that lead to magnification of the workload on CHW in the
field. Further, an increase in the number of CHRs/DUs with dementia is linked to an
increase in individualized care and a larger communication workload.
Evaluation based on economizing due to the demand for increased operational
efficiency and productivity is emphasized as an organizational factor for caregiving
establishments. This type of evaluation risks inhibiting hospitality, the basis of
service. Past participant observation performed in caregiving settings captured
behaviors toward CHRs/DUs such as urging them to avoid unnecessary conversation and focus on eating or not answering when asked the name of a flower in front of
them. Nonetheless, psychological care for CHRs/DUs is also essential.
Human activities provided by humans form the foundation of care. However,
technology is becoming the basis for service-providing organizations (Sandfort,
2009). As previously discussed, technologies can be identified based on “what
service providers do” and “how they do it” (Smith, 2009, p. 431). As caregiving
service is fundamentally user-oriented, it is important that it be guided by what is
being provided in what way while utilizing healthcare technology in accordance with
the user’s psychological and physical status. Just as “technical skills” (clinical
52
Y. Ikeda et al.