Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Exploring the Use of Social Robots to Prepare Children for Radiological Procedures: A Focus Group Study

Massimiliano Nigro, Andrea Righini, Micol Spitale

TL;DR

The paper investigates using social robots to prepare children for radiological procedures by conducting a focus group with pediatric radiology stakeholders in Milan and analyzing the discussion with thematic analysis. It identifies three potential robot roles—guide, infotainment in waiting areas, and a preparation dialogue assistant—and outlines design considerations such as age-appropriate communication, multilingual capabilities, and multi-person interaction. The study situates robots as a non-pharmacological alternative to sedation, aiming to reduce anxiety and improve scan quality by enhancing information delivery and engagement. Findings suggest that stakeholder-driven robot designs could improve the pediatric hospital experience and procedure outcomes, guiding future pilot implementations in clinical settings.

Abstract

When children are anxious or scared, it can be hard for them to stay still or follow instructions during medical procedures, making the process more challenging and affecting procedure results. This is particularly true for radiological procedures, where long scan times, confined spaces, and loud noises can cause children to move, significantly impacting scan quality. To this end, sometimes children are sedated, but doctors are constantly seeking alternative non-pharmacological solutions. This work aims to explore how social robots could assist in preparing children for radiological procedures. We have conducted a focus group discussion with five hospital stakeholders, namely radiographers, paediatricians, and clinical engineers, to explore (i) the context regarding children's preparation for radiological procedures, hence their needs and how children are currently prepared, and (ii) the potential role of social robots in this process. The discussion was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Among our findings, we identified three potential roles for a social robot in this preparation process: offering infotainment in the waiting room, acting as a guide within the hospital, and assisting radiographers in preparing children for the procedure. We hope that insights from this study will inform the design of social robots for pediatric healthcare.

Exploring the Use of Social Robots to Prepare Children for Radiological Procedures: A Focus Group Study

TL;DR

The paper investigates using social robots to prepare children for radiological procedures by conducting a focus group with pediatric radiology stakeholders in Milan and analyzing the discussion with thematic analysis. It identifies three potential robot roles—guide, infotainment in waiting areas, and a preparation dialogue assistant—and outlines design considerations such as age-appropriate communication, multilingual capabilities, and multi-person interaction. The study situates robots as a non-pharmacological alternative to sedation, aiming to reduce anxiety and improve scan quality by enhancing information delivery and engagement. Findings suggest that stakeholder-driven robot designs could improve the pediatric hospital experience and procedure outcomes, guiding future pilot implementations in clinical settings.

Abstract

When children are anxious or scared, it can be hard for them to stay still or follow instructions during medical procedures, making the process more challenging and affecting procedure results. This is particularly true for radiological procedures, where long scan times, confined spaces, and loud noises can cause children to move, significantly impacting scan quality. To this end, sometimes children are sedated, but doctors are constantly seeking alternative non-pharmacological solutions. This work aims to explore how social robots could assist in preparing children for radiological procedures. We have conducted a focus group discussion with five hospital stakeholders, namely radiographers, paediatricians, and clinical engineers, to explore (i) the context regarding children's preparation for radiological procedures, hence their needs and how children are currently prepared, and (ii) the potential role of social robots in this process. The discussion was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Among our findings, we identified three potential roles for a social robot in this preparation process: offering infotainment in the waiting room, acting as a guide within the hospital, and assisting radiographers in preparing children for the procedure. We hope that insights from this study will inform the design of social robots for pediatric healthcare.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 11 sections, 2 figures, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Related Works
  3. Methods
  4. Focus Group Study
  5. Participants
  6. Thematic Analysis
  7. Findings
  8. Children's needs before and during radiological procedures (RQ1-a)
  9. Current methods used to prepare children for radiological procedures (RQ1-b)
  10. Potential roles of a social robot in the preparation for radiological procedures (RQ2)
  11. Discussion and Conclusion

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Themes defined in the TA are presented in orange, while codes related to these themes are presented in blue, and sub-codes are presented in yellow
  • Figure 2: Robot Roles, from left to right: robot for robot for infotainment, robot as a guide, robot for preparation. Yellow indicates how informative the robot should be in the role, and green indicates how entertaining it should be.