Student Journal of Occupational Therapy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Author ORCID Identifier
Nora Mizell: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9000-2191
Rebecca Ozelie: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7296-9353
Abstract
Background: Children may experience anxiety while hospitalized. This may act as a barrier to participation in occupational therapy (OT) sessions and diminish the benefits of OT. Therefore, occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) must provide interventions that support mental health and engagement during pediatric hospitalization. This study explored the feasibility of using social robots as OT intervention to reduce anxiety and support engagement in therapy in children admitted to an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (AIR).
Methods: Participants included four children ages 5-10, admitted to an urban AIR facility. Each participant interacted with a social robot during three, 30-minute occupational therapy sessions. A child and OTP survey of participation in therapy and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS-2; Reynolds & Richmond, 2008) were used for data collection.
Results: Scores on the RCMAS-2 show no change in total anxiety scores (p = 0.655). Participants demonstrated a stronger affinity for OT services and reported improved mood post-intervention. Clinicians observed increased participant engagement and interest in the future use of social robots.
Discussion: Social robots show promise as an intervention to support positive outcomes related to mental health and engagement. Study results show that social robots can increase enjoyment and promote positive feelings after OT sessions. As technology and the field of OT evolve, OTPs must gain experience and knowledge with using social robots during treatment.
Cover Page Footnote
The authors would like to thank the Rush University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program for its support of this project. We also extend our gratitude to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for providing the clinical environment that made this work possible. Special thanks to Elizabeth Berton, OTR/L, for her mentorship and guidance throughout the project, and to Piper Hansen, OTD, OTR/L, for her assistance with the institutional review board (IRB) process. Their support and expertise were invaluable to the completion of this study.
Recommended Citation
Mizell, N., & Ozelie, R. (2026). When Robots Join the Care Team: A Pilot Study of Social Robots in Inpatient Pediatric Occupational Therapy. Student Journal of Occupational Therapy, 5(2), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.46409/001.KCSX5115
