NCT07603180Not yet recruiting
ROBO-PAWS: Robot-Dog-Assisted Walking
ROBO-PAWS: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Robot-Dog-Assisted Walking to Improve Sleep Quality, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Pediatric Oncology Patients
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 22 May 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Childhood cancers affect approximately 400,000 children and adolescents worldwide each year. Although advances in treatment have significantly improved survival rates, children undergoing cancer treatment continue to experience a wide range of treatment-related symptoms and complications. Among these, fatigue and sleep disturbances are particularly common and may persist throughout treatment and survivorship, negatively affecting psychological well-being, cognitive functioning, and overall quality of life. Reduced physical activity during treatment is strongly associated with worsening fatigue, impaired sleep, and decreased quality of life in pediatric oncology patients. However, treatment side effects, prolonged hospitalization, infection risk, and lack of motivating play-based activities often limit children's participation in physical activity during treatment. Recent evidence suggests that physical activity interventions may help reduce fatigue and improve well-being in children with cancer, yet engaging and age-appropriate non-pharmacological interventions remain limited, especially for younger children. This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the feasibility and potential effects of a robot-dog-assisted walking intervention on sleep quality, fatigue, and quality of life among children aged 2-7 years undergoing cancer treatment.
- Status (registry)
- Not yet recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 40 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 13 May 2026
- Start date
- 1 Jun 2026
- Primary completion date
- 1 Jun 2027
- Lead sponsor
- Koç University
- Diseases
- Childhood cancers
- NCT number
- NCT07603180
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 40
- From 1 Jun 2026 to the primary completion date, 1 Jun 2027
- No sites listed in no country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Increased mobilization risk due to high-dose corticosteroid treatment or medications associated with neurotoxicity,
- Concurrent severe infection or serious treatment-related complications (e.g., grade 3-4 mucositis or severe neutropenia requiring isolation),
- Children receiving end-of-life care.
Other illness
- Visual, hearing, or severe cognitive impairment that would prevent interaction with the robotic dog,
Age
- Heart rate or respiratory rate significantly elevated or irregular for age,
Other
- Resting SpO₂ \<94%, requirement for ≥2 L/min oxygen support, or recurrent desaturation episodes within the last 24 hours,
- Hemodynamic instability,
- Motor function limitations that would interfere with safe walking,
Who the study is looking for
- Aged between 2 and 7 years,
- Diagnosed with cancer and currently receiving active treatment,
- Pain level not severe enough to interfere with mobilization (FLACC or Wong-Baker FACES score ≤ 4),
- Diagnosed within the previous 1 month,
- Medically stable and approved by the physician to participate in light-intensity walking activities,
- Expected to remain hospitalized for at least 1 month to allow completion of the study protocol,
- Not scheduled for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and not currently undergoing HSCT,
- Hemoglobin level adequate for participation in walking activities (\>10 g/dL),
- No significant impairment in consciousness, balance, or motor functions due to heavy analgesic or sedative medication use.
Age in the registry: 2 years to 7 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.