Annually in the US, over 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. Youth
with cancer undergo numerous procedures, clinic visits, and hospitalizations as part of
their treatment and are often hospitalized or frequently come to clinic for procedures
and treatment. These events can be distressing and can contribute to a range of negative
emotional and/or psychological outcomes. In younger children, coping with distress and
anxiety is mediated by their level of cognitive development and affective regulation.
Child Life Specialists assist patients and their families during medical experiences by
providing individualized educational and emotional support. Distraction techniques,
usually performed by Child Life professionals, appear to be better suited to the
cognitive abilities of young children, however, the degree to which distraction results
in long-term reductions of child distress has not been well-established.
Parent(s)/families are also important factors to consider since they are often active in
day-to-day care of pediatric cancer patients. Studies have shown that parents have an
active role in supporting and training their children during procedures and aiding in
interventions and/or during evaluations.
Multisensory toys involving audiovisual, kinesthetic, and tactile senses, requiring a
player's active cognitive, motor, and visual skills, have been utilized as an active
distraction technique with the potential of reducing pain and anxiety. Robots are
promising interventions as they provide elements of distraction to children undergoing
stressful and painful medical procedures. In a previous feasibility study completed by
the investigative team, results demonstrate high acceptability of My Special Aflac Duck
(MSAD) as a device and as a method of distraction for children coping with treatment for
pediatric cancer. In addition, the MSAD animatronic device was shown to provide a fun
distraction and was used as a tool for expressing feelings for children with cancer in
the hospital.
This is a multi-center efficacy trial coordinated through the Aflac Cancer and Blood
Disorder Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). Hospitals with pediatric
oncology departments will be recruited and will be responsible for the enrollment of
patients to participate in this study. All participating hospitals will have dedicated
Child Life services. Randomized assignment for this trial will be performed at the
hospital level. Four hospitals will be assigned to have patients receive the My Special
Aflac Duck (MSAD) animatronic device at study initiation and four hospitals will be
assigned to not have patients receive MSAD during the study but will receive MSAD at the
end of the study.
The study plans to enroll a total of 160 patients and their parent(s)/guardian(s). Within
each hospital, 20 families will be recruited; 10 with children aged 3.00-6.99 years and
10 with children aged 7.00-10.99 years.
