Emotional Support of a Social Robot at the Pediatric Emergency Department: a Randomized Clinical Trial

University of L'Aquila1 site in 1 country109 target enrollmentJuly 1, 2019

ConditionsChild, Only

Overview

Phase: Not Applicable
Intervention: Not specified
Conditions: Child, Only
Sponsor: University of L'Aquila
Enrollment: 109
Locations: 1
Primary Endpoint: Salivary cortisol level
Status: Completed
Last Updated: 4 years ago

Overview Investigators Eligibility Criteria Outcomes Sites Similar Trials

Overview

Brief Summary

The investigators are evaluating if the use of humanoid robots is an optimal distraction strategy in order to produce positive emotional states and facilitate the diagnosis and to reduce treatment time in pediatric age in emergency situations.

Registry

clinicaltrials.gov

Start Date

July 1, 2019

End Date

February 28, 2020

Last Updated

4 years ago

Study Type

Observational

Sex

All

Investigators

Sponsor

University of L'Aquila

Responsible Party

Principal Investigator

Clara Balsano

Ordinary professor

University of L'Aquila

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

•children between the ages of 3 and 10 with white, green and yellow triage code

Exclusion Criteria

•Red triage code
•inadequate knowledge of the Italian language,
•yellow triage code in case of: headache for recent trauma with visual impairment; headache with neck rigidity or vomiting; indifference to the environment; dyspnea and increased respiratory work; intoxication by inhalation of toxic substances; significant trauma to the head with altered state of consciousness.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Salivary cortisol level

Time Frame: The surveys have been made when children arrived, after their assigned 15-minutes interaction, and twenty minutes before medical physical examination.

The children's salivary cortisol production was measured over time to obtain a clear picture of the trend of the children's stress level before the emergency medical procedures.