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Preoperative anxiety management in children. Benefits of humanoid robots: an experimental study
Ilaria Franconi1, Andrea Faragalli2, Giulia Palego3
1Operating Room, Salesi Children's Hospital, AOU Ospedali Riuniti Ancona, Ancona, Italy.
Insights
Humanoid robots like Estrabot can significantly reduce preoperative anxiety in children undergoing minor surgery. This technology offers a promising approach to improve pediatric patient experience during medical procedures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Human-Robot Interaction
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Preoperative anxiety is a common issue in children undergoing surgery.
- Anxiety can negatively impact a child's experience and recovery.
- Exploring novel interventions to mitigate pediatric anxiety is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of the humanoid robot Estrabot in reducing preoperative anxiety in children.
- To assess anxiety levels during key procedural points: premedication and anesthesia induction.
Main Methods:
- An experimental study involving 60 pediatric patients (ages 2-14) undergoing minor surgery.
- Patients were divided into an intervention group (Estrabot robot) and a control group.
- Anxiety levels were measured using the Children's Emotional Manifestation Scale.
Main Results:
- The Estrabot group exhibited significantly lower anxiety scores during both premedication and anesthesia induction.
- This anxiety reduction was observed across different age groups within the pediatric population.
- The study analyzed data from April to May 2023, ensuring anonymity.
Conclusions:
- The humanoid robot Estrabot effectively reduces preoperative anxiety in children.
- Estrabot serves as a valuable tool for improving the emotional well-being of pediatric patients during surgical procedures.
- This technology demonstrates potential for wider application in pediatric healthcare settings.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of a humanoid robot (Estrabot) could reduce preoperative anxiety levels in children.
Methods:
An experimental study was conducted at Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche Hospital, involving the Pediatric Surgery ward and the Operating Room (OR). Patients aged between 2 and 14 years who underwent minor surgery were included. The Instruments used were the Children's Emotional Manifestation Scale to evaluate anxiety levels, and Estrabot, a humanoid robot that interacts with people. Medical records between April and May 2023 were analyzed and the data was anonymous. The level of anxiety is extrapolated in Pediatric Surgery during the administration of oral pre-medication, and in the Operating Room, during the induction of anesthesia. Patients were divided into an intervention group treated with Estrabot, and a control group without a robot.
Results:
The population consists of 60 patients (86.7% male) with a median (IQR) age of 6 (4-8) years. The median (IQR) anxiety score during premedication was 7 (5-11), while the median (IQR) anxiety score during anesthesia was 6 (5-10). A significantly lower level of anxiety was reported in the Estrabot group. Patients in the Estrabot group had significantly lower anxiety levels in different age groups.
Conclusion:
A humanoid robot can reduce preoperative anxiety levels in children during premedication and the induction of anesthesia.
