ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2026
Use of a humanoid robot to reduce distress in autistic children undergoing paediatric cardiology visits: a pilot study.
Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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7 authors.
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Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience distress during medical procedures due to sensory sensitivities and communication challenges. We conducted a pilot study assessing whether a humanoid robot (NAO) could reduce distress during cardiology assessments. 24 children with ASD were evaluated during NAO-assisted visits. Distress levels were significantly lower compared with previous routine non-robot-assisted visits involving the same patients. Reduced motion artefacts and shorter diagnostic procedures were also observed. These results support the feasibility and potential benefit of integrating social robots into outpatient paediatric settings for patients with autism, paving the way for more inclusive and neurosensitive healthcare experiences.
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