Pain and emotional distress are prevalent concerns in pediatric hospital care, underscoring the need for safe and evidence-based nonpharmacological interventions. Socially assistive robots (SARs) are innovative tools that alleviate pain and emotional distress through social interaction.
Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, assessed risk of bias, and evaluated the certainty of evidence. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method. Which 7 were eligible for meta-analyses. The narrative synthesis, incorporating intervention characteristics and contextual factors, suggested potential psychological benefits. Future research should adopt rigorous designs and incorporate ethical considerations to optimize effects and ensure sustainable implementation of SARs in pediatric health care.
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