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Children's Fear and Pain During Medical Procedures: A Quality Improvement Study With a Humanoid Robot
Christian E Farrier1, Jacqueline D R Pearson2, Tanya N Beran1
1Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
A humanoid robot reduced pain and fear in children during medical procedures. This technology, using distraction and deep breathing, offers a promising approach to pediatric pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare innovation
- Medical technology in child life services
- Psychological interventions for procedural pain
Background:
- Pediatric patients frequently experience pain during medical procedures.
- Effective pain and fear management is crucial for children's healthcare experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a humanoid robot (MEDi®) on children's pain and fear during medical procedures.
- To assess the effectiveness of robot-led distraction and deep breathing strategies in pediatric care.
Main Methods:
- A nonrandomized pre- and posttest design compared intervention and standard care groups.
- 46 children (aged 2-15) and their parents completed fear and pain scales.
- The study involved inpatient and outpatient pediatric units.
Main Results:
- Children interacting with the robot reported significantly lower fear and pain levels compared to the standard care group.
- Parental reports corroborated a significant reduction in their children's perceived fear and pain.
- Statistical significance was observed with p-values < .05.
Conclusions:
- Humanoid robots programmed with psychological strategies can positively influence children's coping during medical procedures.
- This technology shows potential for enhancing pediatric pain management and overall patient experience.
- Robot-assisted interventions may be a valuable addition to standard pediatric care protocols.
Background:
Pediatric patients undergo a variety of painful medical procedures.
Purpose:
The goal of this quality improvement study was to introduce a humanoid robot (MEDi®) programmed with strategies, such as distraction and deep breathing, at inpatient and outpatient units to determine any preliminary effects on children's pain and fear during medical procedures.
Methods:
A nonrandomized two-group pre- and posttest design was used to compare pain and fear of children before and after intervention versus standard care. A total of 46 children aged 2-15 years undergoing various medical procedures in a pediatric hospital, and their parents completed the Children's Fear Scale and the Faces Pain Scale-Revised. The former was used both before and after the procedure, while the latter only after the procedure.
Results:
Children (n = 18), who interacted with the robot before and during a procedure, and their parents reported significantly lower levels of fear and pain than did children (n = 28) and their parents in standard care, ps < .05.
Conclusions:
The use of a humanoid robot programmed with psychological strategies to support coping may enhance children's experiences of care for pain management.
