Effects of Interactive Toys and Robots on Anxiety and Fear in Children Receiving Nebulized Inhalation in the Pediatric Emergency Department (social robots)

Aylin Kurt

Status: Completed

Conditions: Child; Fear Anxiety; Inhalant Use

Treatments: Other: Interactive Robot; Other: Interactive Doll

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07056816

2025-SBB-0315

Details and patient eligibility

About

Pediatric emergency services are of critical importance for pediatric patients admitted due to sudden illnesses and traumas. However, these environments are serious sources of stress and anxiety for children due to reasons such as uncertainty, pain, and separation anxiety. The emergency service experience can have long-term effects on the child's psychological state and negatively affect the success of medical interventions. Therefore, the development and implementation of various methods to reduce children's anxiety has become a great necessity. In recent years, interactive toys and robotic systems have been increasingly used in medical settings to reduce children's anxiety. Such technological tools have been shown to provide emotional support to children, reduce stress levels by distracting them, and make medical procedures more tolerable. However, there is not enough evidence-based research on the effectiveness of interactive toys and robots, especially in emergency settings, during common but frightening procedures such as nebulized inhalation. This study aims to evaluate the effect of interactive toys and robots on anxiety and fear in children receiving nebulized inhalation treatment in pediatric emergency services. This study, which will be conducted using a randomized controlled design, will make a significant contribution to understanding and improving children's psychological responses to medical procedures. The study was planned as a randomized controlled trial. The population of this study will be conducted in the pediatric emergency department of Ankara Provincial Health Directorate Yıldırım Beyazıt University Yenimahalle Education and Research Hospital between 05.05.2025-05.05.2026. The sample of this study will consist of 72 children aged between 4-10 who agreed to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria and who received nebulized inhalation treatment and met the inclusion criteria.

Hypotheses of the study:

H0 = Playing with interactive toys and interactive robots during nebulized inhalation treatment has no effect on anxiety and fear in children.

H1 = Playing with interactive toys and interactive robots during nebulized inhalation treatment is effective in reducing anxiety and fear in children.

Enrollment: 72 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 10 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being a child between the ages of 4-10,
• Receiving nebulized inhalation treatment in the pediatric emergency department,
• The parent agreeing to participate in the research,
• The child not having speech or vision impairments or any other disabilities that would hinder or prevent communication.

Exclusion criteria

• Children whose parents' permission cannot be obtained
• The child's speech and vision impairment, or any other disability that would make communication difficult or prevent it.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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72 participants in 3 patient groups

Interactive Doll Group

Experimental group

Description:

Interactive Doll: Their hearts beat and they say "hello" as soon as you put it on your finger because they know it's really yours! They also have a different personality and reactions when they open and close your finger. With sensors in their head, mouth and belly, Fingerlings respond to your touch and will respond to you. You can also shake them and turn them upside down for even more reactions because they love to monkey around. And their positive tail can hang down or flip up so they can sit on your table or shelf. Kids will play with the Interactive Doll during the inhalation treatment.

Treatment:

Other: Interactive Doll

Interactive Robot Group

Experimental group

Description:

Interactive Robot: It has an interactive design that improves children's music listening and learning skills. It attracts children's attention with its vibrant colors and cute design, and teaches them while having fun. It has a voice imitation feature and a response feature that makes different sounds when its head is touched. Children will play with the Interactive Robot during inhalation treatment.

Treatment:

Other: Interactive Robot

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

The standard information given to all children receiving nebulized inhalation treatment in the pediatric emergency department will be given to the children in the control group.