A Review of Exoskeletons Considering Nurses

Abstract

Daily tasks of nurses include manual handling to assist patients. Repetitive manual handling leads to high risk of injuries due to the loads on nurses’ bodies. Nurses, in hospitals and care homes, can benefit from the advances in exoskeleton technology assisting their manual handling tasks. There are already exoskeletons both in the market and in the research area made to assist physical workers to handle heavy loads. However, those exoskeletons are mostly designed for men, as most physical workers are men, whereas most nurses are women. In the case of nurses, they handle patients, a more delicate task than handling objects, and any such device used by nurses should easily be disinfected. In this study, the needs of nurses are examined, and a review of the state-of-the-art exoskeletons is conducted from the perspective of to what extent the existing technologies address the needs of nurses. Possible solutions and technologies and particularly the needs that have not been addressed by the existing technologies are discussed.

Assessment of Exoskeletons on Nurses’ Quality of Work Life: A Pilot Study at Foch Hospital

“…When designing an exoskeleton for nurses, it is essential to use anthropometry to consider their size, particularly when compared to men workers for whom most modern exoskeletons are designed [ 16 , 30 ]. Ideally, the exoskeleton should be adjustable to fit each user’s size, but this would result in a heavier and more complex design, making it impractical for daily use by nurses.…”

“…However, few exoskeletons designed for heavy lifting are adjustable to the average female body [ 16 ], as most are designed for men who are manual workers. Women’s body shape and dimensions differ significantly from men’s, and they have different friction points and sensitivity to consider for dynamic movements.…”

“…As part of the prevention of this risk, our center has taken preventive measures to limit employees’ exposure to physical work demands, particularly when taking care of patients. Due to the lack of existing solutions, efforts to find protection for caregivers during bed handling led to the possibility of implementing the back-support exoskeletons developed to prevent low back pain [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Exoskeletons are defined as wearable devices designed to help users perform work tasks by applying force to one or multiple joints.…”

Exoskeleton technology in nursing practice: assessing effectiveness, usability, and impact on nurses’ quality of work life, a narrative review

“…The effectiveness of exoskeletons in reducing physical strain and fatigue among nurses has been a subject of investigation in several studies [ 5 , 8 , 17 , 18 ]. These wearable robotic devices are designed to provide mechanical support and assistance, aiming to alleviate the physical demands of nursing tasks and mitigate the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.…”

“…The effectiveness of exoskeletons in reducing physical strain and fatigue among nurses is a key aspect to be examined [ 5 ]. Assessing the impact of exoskeletons on nurses’ biomechanics, such as posture and muscle activity, can provide insights into the potential benefits of these devices in alleviating the physical demands of nursing tasks [ 8 ]. Additionally, understanding the usability and acceptance of exoskeletons among nurses is essential to ensure their practicality and integration into daily practice [ 9 ].…”