D. Di Genova
Papers
1
Total Citations
46
H-Index
1
About
Dr. D. Di Genova is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of pediatric healthcare and human-robot interaction, whose work explores how social robots can alleviate distress in vulnerable young patients. Her landmark 2021 study, "Using the Social Robot NAO for Emotional Support to Children at a Pediatric Emergency Department," demonstrated through a randomized clinical trial that interactive robots significantly reduce anxiety in children awaiting emergency consultations. This highly cited paper (46 citations) established a new paradigm for non-pharmacological interventions in acute care settings, showing that robots like NAO can serve as effective emotional buffers during stressful medical experiences. Dr. Di Genova's research bridges robotics, developmental psychology, and emergency medicine, offering practical tools to improve pediatric patient experiences. Her work has been instrumental in advancing the field of socially assistive robotics, providing evidence that these technologies can meaningfully support children in real-world clinical environments. By focusing on the critical waiting period in emergency departments—a previously underexplored context—she has opened new avenues for using technology to enhance pediatric care and reduce procedural distress.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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