Ambivalent perspectives on social robots in pharmacy counselling – A qualitative study of regulatory and sector association representatives' views

Authors

• Sara Rosenberg Åbo Akademi University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8938-7939
• Malin Andtfolk Åbo Akademi University
• Susanne Hägglund Åbo Akademi University
• Mattias Wingren Åbo Akademi University
• Sören Andersson Åbo Akademi University
• Linda Estman Department of Caring and Ethics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.178743

Keywords:

social robots, medication counselling, pharmacies, authority, associations, qualitative research

Abstract

Health technological solutions including social robots offer a means to meet the growing needs of the healthcare sector, also in pharmacies. This study explored the receptiveness of the pharmacy sector regarding the use of social robots in medication counselling through the views of relevant regulatory authority and sector association representatives within the pharmacy sector in Finland.

Before taking part in semi-structured in-depth interviews where their perspectives were explored, the interviewees watched a video recording of a potential pharmacy customer interacting with a social robot in a simulated pharmacy setting. The qualitative interview data was transcribed and inductively analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The interviewees were seven in total.

The main theme found was the ambivalent views among them concerning social robots counselling in pharmacies. The interviewees seem to fight an internal battle regarding accepting a social robot providing medication counselling in this context. Although positive to the idea, they are not yet ready to embrace it. Relevant legislation also needs to catch up for such health technologies to become a possible tool for pharmacies. Meanwhile, the pharmacy sector may contribute to the development of social robots for medication counselling purposes and thus become better adapted to social robots potentially entering pharmacies in the future.