Dementia-related needs through the lens of social robotics: A scoping review protocol

Social robotics, a hybrid discipline that combines robotics with social sciences, has been receiving substantial investments from governments due to the ongoing challenges posed by ageing populations worldwide. Dementia is a neurodegenerative syndrome that requires long-term care and has therefore become an important area for social robotics. The scientific literature has many reports on the “needs” associated with the dementia care ecosystem; however, only a small portion of those needs are currently translated to discussions on social robots. 

The planned scoping review aims to synthesise evidence from the global scientific literature about the needs identified by researchers involved in social robotics. The comparison of this specific subset of needs with the broader landscape of dementia-related needs can help reveal research gaps. Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological framework, this scoping review will examine dementia-related needs in terms of social robotics across eleven electronic databases. Evidence related to the needs of all stakeholders, including people with dementia, formal and informal carers, roboticists, researchers, health and social care professionals, and policymakers will be systematically synthesised. 

This comprehensive review will be the first to examine all reported needs for care stakeholders within the context of social robotics and human-robot interactions (HRI). The findings, which will be systematically synthesised and presented, are anticipated to inform a broad interdisciplinary audience and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.