Nigel van Putten

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Nigel van Putten is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and pediatric healthcare. His primary focus lies in developing and deploying social robots as non-pharmacological interventions to alleviate pain and anxiety in young patients during medical procedures. His most cited work, "Mitigating Children’s Pain and Anxiety during Blood Draw Using Social Robots" (2021, 31 citations), is a landmark study that demonstrates how robotic companions can significantly reduce distress during venipuncture and capillary blood sampling. This research addresses a critical clinical challenge: high anxiety in pediatric patients often leads to prolonged treatment times, increased parental stress, and greater workloads for healthcare professionals. By showing that social robots can serve as effective, scalable tools for distraction and comfort, van Putten has opened new avenues for integrating technology into routine medical care. His work is notable for its direct clinical applicability and its potential to transform the pediatric patient experience, making him a key figure in the growing field of socially assistive robotics.