Esther M. van der Roest

Heidelberg University, University Medical Center Utrecht

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Esther M. van der Roest is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of pediatric healthcare and human-robot interaction. Her work centers on leveraging social robotics to mitigate pain and anxiety in children undergoing medical procedures, particularly blood draws. Her most influential study, "Mitigating Children’s Pain and Anxiety during Blood Draw Using Social Robots" (2021, 31 citations), established the foundational framework for using robots as non-pharmacological distraction tools in clinical settings. Building on this, her 2024 study demonstrated the effectiveness of the Softbank Robotics NAO robot in reducing distress for children aged 4-12 during venipuncture, employing engaging behavioral protocols to shift young patients' focus from painful stimuli. Van der Roest’s contributions are significant: she has shown that social robots can decrease treatment times, lower healthcare worker burden, and improve the overall pediatric patient experience. Her work is notable for translating robotics research into real-world clinical applications, offering a scalable, compassionate solution to a common medical challenge. With growing citation impact, she is shaping how technology can humanize healthcare for the youngest patients.