Implementation status, difficulties, and barriers to adopting nursing-care technologies in long-term care facilities in Japan: A prefecture-wide cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Japan faces a shortage of care workers due to its rapidly aging population. Although nursing care technologies can reduce caregiver burden and improve care quality, their long-term feasibility remains unclear. We investigated the implementation of these technologies and associated challenges in long-term care facilities. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of all long-term care facilities in Aichi Prefecture, Japan (total population, approximately 7.5 million), was conducted between February and March 2024. Results: Of 2,514 eligible facilities, 497 participated (a 19.8% response rate), and 477 were included in the final analysis. The overall implementation rate was 22.0%. Implementing facilities reported a lack of information on available devices (55.2%) and challenges with subsidy application processes (52.4%). Among non-implementing facilities, 63.2% expressed a willingness to adopt devices, primarily to reduce staff workload (95.7%). Key barriers included financial constraints (91.1%), cost-effectiveness concerns (62.1%), and limited information (55.7%). The results indicate significant interest in nursing-care technologies and identify key implementation difficulties and adoption barriers. Conclusion: Improving information accessibility and simplifying subsidy-application procedures could facilitate the adoption of nursing care technologies. These results may also benefit countries facing similar demographic challenges.