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Abstract
Objective
To describe the experience of implementing social robotics as an adjuvant during the hospitalization process in pediatric oncology patients.
Methods
Before and after cohort study, applying an intervention with the Lego Mindstorms EV3 kit in patients between 8 and 17 years old that are hospitalized with a cancer diagnosis. We excluded patients from the intensive care unit or when their treating physician recommended so. The intervention consisted of a three-phase workshop: an open architecture story, building a car robot using the Lego Mindstorm EV3 kit, and cooperative playing activities such as races and passing obstacles.
Results
Thirteen patients received the intervention with robotic lego. The median age was 15 years (IQR = 3), and 84.6% of the population (n = 11) were male. We found significant improvement in the language (topic management p = .011 and communicative intention p = .034). Other characteristics improved, but not significantly (self-care activities index, catching). No adverse events occurred during the intervention.
Conclusions
The results of this pilot study suggest that implementing social robotics during hospitalization in children with cancer is a therapeutic adjuvant and safe intervention that promotes better communication, self-care, and a physical activity improvement. For future studies, the impact of this intervention could be measured in hospitalized pediatric cancer patients.
Acknowledgments
To the patients and their families for their willingness throughout the research process. To the Pediatric Oncology Service at Hospital Militar Central, Colombia for providing the necessary space to develop the study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).