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Evaluating the Impact of a Telepresence Robot Intervention on Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Preliminary Study

Zaid Elsabbagh1, Henry Hyonoo Joo1, Syed Ameen Ahmad1

  • 1The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Clinical Pediatrics
|February 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The WeGo Telepresence Robotics Program effectively reduced preoperative anxiety in pediatric surgical patients. This virtual tour shows promise as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve patient experience.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Anesthesiology
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Preoperative anxiety is prevalent in pediatric surgical patients.
  • Anxiety is linked to negative perioperative outcomes.
  • Non-pharmacological interventions are needed to manage pediatric anxiety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the feasibility of the WeGo Telepresence Robotics Program.
  • To evaluate WeGo as a tool for reducing preoperative anxiety in children.
  • To explore WeGo's potential as a non-pharmacological intervention.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, single-arm pilot study.
  • Fifteen pediatric patients (ages 5-14) undergoing elective surgery.
  • Intervention: WeGo virtual tour before surgery.
  • Anxiety measured by Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS).

Main Results:

  • Significant decrease in mean mYPAS scores (33.22 to 24.00, P < .001).
  • All patients showed reduced or maintained low anxiety levels.
  • No significant association between anxiety reduction and patient demographics or history.

Conclusions:

  • The WeGo program is feasible for preoperative anxiety reduction in pediatric patients.
  • WeGo shows potential as a non-pharmacological tool to improve patient care.
  • Further research is needed to confirm efficacy and explore wider applications.

Keywords:
non-pharmacological interventionpediatricspreoperative anxietytelepresence roboticsvirtual tour

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