Hospital entrance reception and guidance using Pepper and NAO robots
Official title: Hospitality Oriented Service Perception Evolution With Robots (HOSPER)
Run by Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura per Anziani · NCT07002411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether placing Pepper and NAO social robots at the hospital entrance helps visitors, especially older adults, get directions and information more easily.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura per Anziani Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ancona) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 18, 2024 |
| Main results expected | July 30, 2025 |
| Study ends | July 30, 2025 |
| Registry record updated | June 3, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07002411 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are hospital visitors—particularly older adults—who have full cognitive capacity and can provide written informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
People with cognitive impairment, those unable to give written consent, or visitors who require complex medical triage or prefer human-only assistance are unlikely to receive benefit from this service.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
At IRCCS INRCA in Ancona, two social robots (Pepper and NAO) will be placed at the hospital entrance to offer proactive directions and information to visitors. Participants with full cognitive capacity who provide written informed consent will interact with the robots during normal reception hours. The project will record feasibility metrics (robot uptime, number of successful guidance interactions) and collect participant satisfaction ratings after interactions. Staff will compare these measures with the current reception performance to determine whether robot-assisted reception improves the visitor experience.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the robots could make it easier for visitors to find departments and improve the reception experience for older adults while reducing staff workload.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small-scale pilots using Pepper and NAO in healthcare settings have shown feasibility and higher user satisfaction, but large-scale evidence is still limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Possession of full cognitive capacity; Exclusion Criteria: * • Lack of written informed consent
Where it's running
-
IRCCS INRCA Hospital
Ancona, Italy Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Letizia Ferrara, MD — IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
- Study coordinator: Anna Rita Bonfigli
- Email: a.bonfigli@inrca.it
- Phone: 0718003719
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.