Telepresence Robots Improve Social Connectedness for Homebound Pediatric Patients

Abstract

Millions of children and adolescents in the US now live with chronic illnesses such as cancer, immuno-deficiency disorders, and others (Sexson & Madan-Swain, 1993). This has led to a growing population of homebound pediatric patients who are unable to physically attend school, due to symptoms or treatments of their illness, but who are still cognitively able to learn. In our study, we explored the use of telepresence robots by homebound pediatric patients to attend their local schools. In order to explore if this practice may have a positive effect on perceived well-being, we sought to answer the questions: 1) Why are students using these robots? 2) Do they feel happier using the robots? Remaining connected to peers and school community was the primary motivation for students using this technology. Almost all participants reported feeling” happy” or “good” when using the robot.