Robot Telepresence Operated by Child Life Specialists in Healthcare Settings

Background: Social robots have the potential to benefit children who lack companionship during hospitalization. The feasibility of employing social robots for this purpose has not been thoroughly studied. Robin (Expper Technologies, Inc.) is a social companion robot with responsive facial expressions, voice modulation, and movement capabilities that are remotely controlled by a human. This study analyzes the unique benefits and challenges associated with operating and incorporating a social robot into the framework of inpatient pediatric multidisciplinary care.

Methods: Child life specialists (CLSs, n=5) remotely operated a social robot via telepresence in a large academic children’s hospital from October 2020-April 2021. At the conclusion of the study period, CLSs provided feedback regarding their experience with Robin in a focus group. Following grounded theory methodology for qualitative analysis, two investigators used a transcript of the discussion to identify recurrent and salient themes.

Results: CLSs reported significant perceived benefits of the social robot for patients, which included a greater display of intimacy and interactivity during play, increased control over their hospital experience, and the formation of a new, trusting friendship. CLSs also reported that some young patients were intimidated by the size of the robot. Perceived benefits to staff included an increased sense of intimacy with and focus on the patient, increased staff engagement in social care, and a relative ease in maintaining infection control practices. Noted challenges among CLS staff included a steep learning curve when operating Robin, an expectation from patients that Robin remembered conversations initiated by other CLS staff operating the robot, time constraints, limited mobility, and technical issues with wireless connectivity (Table 1). No safety issues were reported.

Conclusion: A social robot was safely and successfully deployed in the care of hospitalized children. CLSs reported perceived benefits that outnumbered perceived challenges for patients and staff. A social robot like Robin is a practical adjunct to the inpatient pediatric multidisciplinary setting. Further studies should quantify the beneficial effects of social robotics in healthcare.