Maintaining health-related quality of life and sense of belonging for pediatric patients with chronic illnesses by using a telepresence robot
Abstract
Children with chronic illnesses often miss school, leading to negative outcomes like diminished health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sense of belonging. Telepresence robots are suggested to keep these children connected to peers and education, yet little research has explored their impact. This study assessed effects of a telepresence system on HRQoL and sense of belonging in 29 patients with chronic illnesses aged 6 to 18 years, who were absent from school. Using a one-group pre-posttest design, participants completed questionnaires before and 6 months after receiving the robot. It was expected that HRQoL and sense of belonging would remain stable due to the robot. Wilcoxon tests indicated no decline in HRQoL (Z = -.958, 95% CI [-3.1, 8.3]) or sense of belonging (Z = -1.409, 95% CI [-0.3, 0.8]). Spearman correlations revealed a significant correlation between age and changes in school (rs = 0.621, 95% CI [0.200, 0.848]) and friends' subscales (rs = 0.579, 95% CI [-0.136, 829]), suggesting adolescents benefit particularly from the robot. Consistent with prior research, this study shows no change in psychosocial factors, indicating a stabilizing effect of telepresence robots and contributing to sustainable psychosocial care for pediatric patients.
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Growing evidence identifies SoSB as a facilitator of well-being and academic and psychological outcomes among students with chronic illness.
“Growing evidence identifies SoSB as a facilitator of well‐being and academic and psychological outcomes among students with chronic illness [32, 36, 37, 38, 39].”
From Sense of School Belonging and School Reintegration for Students Hospitalized With Chronic or Complex Medical Diseases: Insights From a Grounded Theory Study (2026) · cites this paper as [39]
Cites
Students' Need for Belonging in the School Community
Osterman, K. F. (2000) · Review of Educational Research · doi:10.3102/00346543070003323 · Cited by 2,498 · cited 1× · see citing works
“…negative outcomes are particularly problematic because maintaining HRQoL and a sense of belonging are suggested to be protective and bene fi cial for children ’ s overall health (Allen et al., 2024; Anderman, 2002; Cerqueira et al., 2022; Chubb et al., 2021; Lohmeier and Lee, 2011; Osterman, 2000).”
Coping with chronic illness in childhood and adolescence
Compas, B. E., Jaser, S. S., Dunn, M. J., & Rodriguez, E. M. (2012) · Annual Review of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032511-143108 · Cited by 723 · see citing works
Sense of School Belonging and Paediatric Illness: A Scoping Review
Tomberli, L., & Ciucci, E. (2021) · Continuity in Education · doi:10.5334/cie.32 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
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Tomberli, L., Vagnoli, L., Pavone, L., Amore, E., & Ciucci, E. (2026) · Journal of School Health · doi:10.1111/josh.70176
- Authors
- Zillner, C., Rockenbauer, G., Turner, A., Röhsner, M., Klebermass-Schrehof, K., & Pletschko, T.
- Affiliations
- Medical University of Vienna (AT)
- Hospital School Vienna
- University of Klagenfurt (AT)
- die Berater Unternehmensberatungs GmbH
- Corresponding author
- Zillner, Clarissa
- Venue
- Journal of Child Health Care
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2024-11-21
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 23-35
- ISSN
- 1367-4935 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-2889
- OpenAlex
- W4404588407
- Cited by
- 2
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2
- FWCI
- 0.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child Health Care (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Pfizer Corporation Austria GmbH (66829049)
- CCP Starter grant of the Medical University of Vienna
- Innovationsstiftung fur Bildung
- Occursus award for communication in oncology
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Robot Interaction and HRI
- Social Sciences › Education › Youth Substance Use and School Attendance
- Keywords
- telepresence robots, health-related quality of life, sense of belonging, children with chronic illness, school absenteeism, social isolation, adolescents, psychosocial care, peer connection
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Chronic Disease, Female, Humans, Male, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Robotics
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