"Utilizing Social Robot Dog “Pupper” to Improve Mood and Happiness in P" by Sylvia Targ

Date of Graduation

Fall 12-13-2024

Document Access

Restricted Project/Capstone - USF access only

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

MSN project

First Advisor

Emira Romero, RN, MSN

Abstract

Objective Pediatric hospitalization has been shown to increase the risk of developmental delays and mental health outcomes. Decreased happiness from hospitalization also leads to reduced motivation and engagement in care. The objective of this study is to investigate whether social robots improve mood in hospitalized pediatric patients. Aim The aim of this project is to improve the mood of pediatric patients aged 3-25 years by 50% from the patient’s baseline level within one month, from October 16, 2024 to November 13, 2024, on a pediatric cardiac step down unit by utilizing a quadruped robot dog to motivate patients to engage in their care. Methods Twelve participants aged 3-25 years individually interacted with a social robot dog, Pupper, to observe changes in happiness and mood. Each patient completed a pre- and post-intervention survey to assess the impact of Pupper on improving mood. Results Pupper increased average participant mood ratings from 3.75 at baseline to 4.67 on a six point scale, or a 24% improvement. After intervention, participants also on average expressed more positive and fewer negative emotions. Conclusion Pupper successfully improved the mood of the participants and may present a promising resource for enhancing the psychosocial well-being of hospitalized children. However, further research with a larger sample size and broader range of pediatric participants must be conducted to explore the potential of Pupper as a tool to improve patient mood and motivation.

Download

To download restricted works from off campus you must have a USF email address and use it to create an account for the repository.

  Contact Author

Share

COinS