Nurse preferences of caring robots: A conjoint experiment to explore most valued robot features

AIM: Due to the COVID pandemic and technological innovation, robots gain increasing role in nursing services. While studies investigated negative attitudes of nurses towards robots, we lack an understanding of nurses' preferences about robot characteristics. Our aim was to explore how key robot features compare when weighed together. METHODS: Cross‐sectional research design based on a conjoint analysis approach. Robot dimensions tested were: (1) communication; (2) look; (3) safety; (4) self‐learning ability; and (5) interactive behaviour. Participants were asked to rank robot profile cards from most to least preferred. RESULTS: In order of importance, robot’s ability to learn ranked first followed by behaviour, look, operating safety and communication. Most preferred robot combination was ‘robot responds to commands only, looks like a machine, never misses target, runs programme only and behaves friendly’. CONCLUSIONS: Robot self‐learning capacity was least favoured by nurses showing potential fear of robots taking over core nurse competencies.