AUTHOR=Schwarz Patricia , Hellmers Sandra , Spanknebel Sebastian , Hurlemann Rene , Hein Andreas 

TITLE=Humanoid patient robot for diagnostic training in medical and psychiatric education 

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Robotics and AI

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/robotics-and-ai/articles/10.3389/frobt.2024.1424845

DOI=10.3389/frobt.2024.1424845

ISSN=2296-9144

ABSTRACT=Simulation-based learning is an integral part of hands-on learning and is often done through role-playing games or patients simulated by professional actors. In this article, we present the use of a humanoid robot as a simulation patient for the presentation of disease symptoms in the setting of medical education. In a study, 12 participants watched both the patient simulation by the robotic patient and the video with the actor patient. We asked participants about their subjective impressions of the robotic patient simulation compared to the video with the human actor patient using a self-developed questionnaire. In addition, we used the Affinity for Technology Interaction Scale. The evaluation of the questionnaire provided insights into whether the robot was able to realistically represent the patient which features still need to be improved, and whether the robot patient simulation was accepted by the participants as a learning method. Sixty-seven percent of the participants indicated that they would use the robot as a training opportunity in addition to the videos with acting patients. The majority of participants indicated that they found it very beneficial to have the robot repeat the case studies at their own pace.