Enhancing Contextual Awareness in (Non)Critical Care Situations - Results from an Exploratory Study to Inform Decision-Making with Smart Glasses and Telepresence Robots in Night Shifts

Professional caregivers in long-term care settings, particularly during night shifts, face the challenge of managing simultaneous care demands while responding to uncertain situations. We present the design and evaluation of a system combining smart glasses with a telepresence robot to support decision-making in such scenarios. Developed with care partners, the system enables caregivers to remotely access real-time audio and video from a secondary location, enhancing situational awareness without requiring physical presence. We report on a controlled study with 36 nursing students, comparing an intervention group using the system with a control group receiving only a standard alarm. Participants performed a routine care task while an unexpected situation occurred in a separate room. The intervention group remotely assessed and communicated with the simulated patient via the telepresence robot, whereas the control group relied on physical movement. Results show that remote access to contextual information significantly reduced perceived physical and temporal demand while enabling faster situational assessment. However, the system also introduced cognitive demands associated with multitasking. This work demonstrates the potential of combining wearable and telepresence technologies to support real-time decision-making in acute care contexts, while pointing to the need for further human-centered research and real-world evaluation.