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Interactive Education on Sleep Hygiene with a Social Robot at a Pediatric Oncology Outpatient Clinic: Feasibility,

Kelly L A van Bindsbergen1,2, Hinke van der Hoek1, Marloes van Gorp1

  • 1Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Cancers
|August 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A social robot improved sleep hygiene in children with cancer through interactive education. This study found the robot intervention feasible and effective for enhancing children's sleep habits.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Human-Robot Interaction
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep problems are common in children with cancer, negatively impacting health and quality of life.
  • Effective interventions are needed to improve sleep in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the feasibility, user experiences, and preliminary effectiveness of a social robot delivering sleep hygiene education.
  • To assess the impact of robot-led education on sleep hygiene in pediatric oncology outpatients.

Main Methods:

  • A two-week study involving children (8-12 years) undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Feasibility assessed via observations; parent-reported sleep hygiene measured pre- and post-intervention using the Children's Sleep Hygiene Scale.
  • Semi-structured interviews evaluated child and parent experiences; statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and a dependent-samples t-test.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-eight families participated with a 58% response rate; all robot interactions were completed.
  • High engagement reported: 75% of children and 50% of parents felt they learned something new.
  • Statistically significant improvement in children's sleep hygiene (p = 0.047, d = 0.39) was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Interactive sleep hygiene education using a social robot in a pediatric oncology outpatient clinic is feasible.
  • Children and parents reported positive experiences and learning outcomes.
  • Preliminary evidence suggests this novel approach can improve sleep hygiene in children with cancer.
Abstract

Keywords:
innovationinteractive educationoutpatient clinicpediatric oncologypsycho-oncologysleep hygienesocial robots

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