A randomized pilot study evaluating socially assistive robot effects on patient engagement and care quality.

Healthcare faces significant challenges, including workforce shortages and increasing demands. Socially assistive robots (SARs) have emerged as potential solutions to augment care, but their implementation in hospital wards remains largely unexplored. We conducted a randomized external pilot study (ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN96689284, registered 24/02/2022) evaluating SAR intervention feasibility and effects on patient engagement and perceived quality of care (co-primary outcomes) and health-related quality of life (secondary outcome) in surgical wards. Patients (N = 229) at University Medical Center Maribor were allocated to SAR intervention (standard care + SAR) or control groups (standard care only). The SAR utilized validated, story-driven conversational capabilities providing standardized patient education, support, and basic triage through predefined dialog flows. While overall effects on patient engagement and perceived care quality were limited, the intervention showed positive impact on pain management. Contextual factors moderated intervention effects, highlighting SAR potential in specific domains. No substantial negative effects were detected. High retention rates demonstrated practical feasibility of SAR implementation in surgical settings.