Effect of the MIROKI Companion Robot on Anxiety in Pediatric Radiotherapy
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Pediatric Oncology, Radiotherapy, Parent. Basic parameters: from 4 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- France
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Pediatric radiotherapy is an anxiety-provoking situation that can, on one hand, impair the child's cooperation and require sedation, and on the other hand,burden the care pathway by generating significant anxiety in both the child and their parents. Companion robots represent an innovative avenue for patient support, but they have never been evaluated in the context of radiotherapy. This study examines the effect of MIROKI, the first social robot capable of communication through a Large Multimodal Model (LMM), on children's state anxiety during radiotherapy. An experimental single-case design (SCED) will compare phases with and without the robot (withdrawal/reversal), both in the waiting room and in the irradiation bunker. The primary outcome variable is anxiety, assessed in several ways: through questionnaires at the beginning and end of treatment; through an objective measure of cardiac activity (heart rate in bpm) during the radiotherapy session, with or without the MIROKI robot; and through an observational grid assessing the child's behavior. The intensive repeated measure (bpm) constitutes the preferred variable in this SCED design, while behavioral observation and anxiety questionnaires will support interpretation. The results could pave the way for reducing sedation and improving the overall care pathway in pediatric radiotherapy.
Primary outcome measures
- To evaluate the immediate intra-individual effect of MIROKI on a physiological marker of anxiety in children undergoing radiotherapy. [Time frame: During the treatment, across the 6 radiotherapy sessions]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Evaluate the immediate intra-individual effect of MIROKI in children on: Psychological distress level [Time frame: administered before the start of treatment and after completion of treatment]
- Evaluate the immediate intra-individual effect of MIROKI in children on development of attachment and reassurance [Time frame: Before, during, and after treatment]
- Evaluate the satisfaction with care (radiotherapy at ICM) at the end of treatment [Time frame: At the end of treatment]
- Evaluate the impact of MIROKI on the radiotherapy process: Setup time during sessions in the radiotherapy room [Time frame: From the beginning to the end of the treatment course]
- Evaluate the impact of MIROKI on parents: - Anxiety level - Satisfaction with care at the end of treatment - Experience of the radiotherapy process at the end of treatment [Time frame: Before the start , during and after the treatment,]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Children aged 4 to 18 years, distributed across the following age groups: 4-7 years, 8-12 years, and 13-18 years.
- Child with an indication for radiotherapy treatment at ICM.
- Child who speaks French.
- Child accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who agrees to participate in the study and provide consent.
- Child covered by the French national health insurance system.
Exclusion criteria
6\. Child with a diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder as a comorbidity. 7. Child with postoperative cognitive sequelae that make interaction during care difficult (e.g., language impairment). 8. Total body irradiation. 9. Child under legal protection, unable to express assent, or presenting major difficulties in understanding the study information. Parent Inclusion Criteria
- Parent of a child enrolled in the study.
- Able to speak French.
- Willing to participate in the study. Parent Exclusion Criteria
1\. Parents or legal representatives under legal protection, or presenting an inability to consent or to understand the study information, making it impossible to provide free and informed consent for the minor's participation.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
Study locations
France · 1 center
- Julien Welmant — Montpellier
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07645950 · PROICM 2026-01 KOK