Beyond the Stethoscope: Robotic Empathy in Pediatric Cardiology. The Emerging Role of Social Robots. A Pilot Study

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with restricted interests, stereotyped behaviors, and differences in social communication that can increase distress during clinical encounters. These characteristics may exacerbate anxiety and oppositional behaviours in medical settings. Conversely, the predictable and repetitive way social robots operate appears to align with the cognitive style exhibited by many people with autism and may offer opportunities to reduce situational stress. This pilot study investigated the potential of a humanoid social robot (NAO) to improve cooperation and reduce observable distress during pediatric cardiological assessments in children diagnosed with ASD. Twenty-four patients (aged 5–18) underwent cardiac evaluation in the presence of NAO, which was programmed to interact via stories, movements, dances, and sound cues. Primary outcomes showed lower observed distress during robot-assisted visits compared with retrospective caregiver reports of routine noninvasive visits. Secondary outcomes included shorter procedure times and fewer motion-related artifacts during diagnostic recordings.