TY - JOUR
T1 - Telepresence robots to reduce school absenteeism among children with cancer, neuromuscular diseases, or anxiety—the expectations of children and teachers
T2 - A qualitative study in Denmark
AU - Weibel, Mette
AU - Skoubo, Sofie
AU - Handberg, Charlotte
AU - Bertel, Lykke Brogaard
AU - Steinrud, Nonni Camilla
AU - Schmiegelow, Kjeld
AU - Hallström, Inger Kristensson
AU - Larsen, Hanne Baekgaard
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Background: This study explores expectations for telepresence robots as a tool to reduce absence in education as school absence negatively influences children's academic advancement and psychosocial wellbeing. Design: A qualitative semi-structured interview study. Method and population: Using convenience sampling, we interviewed 11 children aged 8–17 years with cancer (n = 4), neuromuscular diseases (n = 3) or anxiety (n = 4) who had a high level of school absence (more than 15 days’ absence in a school year), and who had recently encountered a telepresence robot; and eight of their teachers. A thematical analysis and a deductive approach based on the theory of Technological frames were used. Results: The children's and teachers' expectations of how telepresence robots could support them in reducing their school absence were identified and structured in three categories and five main themes: 1) Nature of technology: a) Learning, b) Sociality, c) Additional supportive resources; 2) Technology strategy: a) Flexible school day; 3) Technology in use: a) New workflows. Conclusion: This study indicates that implementation requires additional resources from teachers. Children with disease-related school absence and their teachers expect telepresence robots to reconnect the children socially, by maintaining or creating new friendships, and academically, by fostering inclusion and reducing absence.
AB - Background: This study explores expectations for telepresence robots as a tool to reduce absence in education as school absence negatively influences children's academic advancement and psychosocial wellbeing. Design: A qualitative semi-structured interview study. Method and population: Using convenience sampling, we interviewed 11 children aged 8–17 years with cancer (n = 4), neuromuscular diseases (n = 3) or anxiety (n = 4) who had a high level of school absence (more than 15 days’ absence in a school year), and who had recently encountered a telepresence robot; and eight of their teachers. A thematical analysis and a deductive approach based on the theory of Technological frames were used. Results: The children's and teachers' expectations of how telepresence robots could support them in reducing their school absence were identified and structured in three categories and five main themes: 1) Nature of technology: a) Learning, b) Sociality, c) Additional supportive resources; 2) Technology strategy: a) Flexible school day; 3) Technology in use: a) New workflows. Conclusion: This study indicates that implementation requires additional resources from teachers. Children with disease-related school absence and their teachers expect telepresence robots to reconnect the children socially, by maintaining or creating new friendships, and academically, by fostering inclusion and reducing absence.
KW - Children
KW - Disability
KW - Education
KW - School
KW - School absenteeism
KW - Telepresence robots
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151429209&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chbr.2023.100280
DO - 10.1016/j.chbr.2023.100280
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2451-9588
VL - 10
JO - Computers in Human Behavior Reports
JF - Computers in Human Behavior Reports
M1 - 100280
ER -