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Robotic Technology in Pediatric Neurorehabilitation. A Pilot Study of Human Factors in an Italian Pediatric Hospital

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Gilardi

    (Health Directorate, Occupational Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Federica De Falco

    (Health Directorate, Occupational Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Daniela Casasanta

    (Health Directorate, Occupational Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Martina Andellini

    (Health Technology Assessment Unit, Health Technology & Safety Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Simone Gazzellini

    (Neurorehabilitation Units, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Maurizio Petrarca

    (Neurorehabilitation Units, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Andreina Morocutti

    (Neurorehabilitation Units, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Donatella Lettori

    (Neurorehabilitation Units, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Matteo Ritrovato

    (Health Technology Assessment Unit, Health Technology & Safety Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Enrico Castelli

    (Neurorehabilitation Units, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Massimiliano Raponi

    (Health Directorate, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy)

  • Nicola Magnavita

    (Post-Graduate School of Occupational Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
    Department of Woman, Child & Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
    The authors shared the last name.)

  • Salvatore Zaffina

    (Health Directorate, Occupational Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
    The authors shared the last name.)

Abstract

The introduction of robotic neurorehabilitation among the most recent technologies in pediatrics represents a new opportunity to treat pediatric patients. This study aims at evaluating the response of physiotherapists, patients and their parents to this new technology. The study considered the outcomes of technological innovation in physiotherapists (perception of the workload, satisfaction), as well as that in patients and their parents (quality of life, expectations, satisfaction) by comparing the answers to subjective questionnaires of those who made use of the new technology with those who used the traditional therapy. A total of 12 workers, 46 patients and 47 parents were enrolled in the study. Significant differences were recorded in the total workload score of physiotherapists who use the robotic technology compared with the traditional therapy ( p < 0.001). Patients reported a higher quality of life and satisfaction after the use of the robotic neurorehabilitation therapy. The parents of patients undergoing the robotic therapy have moderately higher expectations and satisfaction than those undergoing the traditional therapy. In this pilot study, the robotic neurorehabilitation technique involved a significant increase in the patients’ and parents’ expectations. As it frequently happens in the introduction of new technologies, physiotherapists perceived a greater workload. Further studies are needed to verify the results achieved.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Gilardi & Federica De Falco & Daniela Casasanta & Martina Andellini & Simone Gazzellini & Maurizio Petrarca & Andreina Morocutti & Donatella Lettori & Matteo Ritrovato & Enrico Castelli & Ma, 2020. "Robotic Technology in Pediatric Neurorehabilitation. A Pilot Study of Human Factors in an Italian Pediatric Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-15, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3503-:d:359316
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Laura Ellen Ashcraft & Miya Asato & Amy J. Houtrow & Dio Kavalieratos & Elizabeth Miller & Kristin N. Ray, 2019. "Parent Empowerment in Pediatric Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 12(2), pages 199-212, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Žiga Kozinc & Jan Babič & Nejc Šarabon, 2020. "Comparison of Subjective Responses of Low Back Pain Patients and Asymptomatic Controls to Use of Spinal Exoskeleton during Simple Load Lifting Tasks: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-9, December.

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