Summary of included publications, with authors and country, study type, target population, robot type and purpose (note: n/a = not applicable)
| Source and country | Study type | Target population | Robot(s) and source | Purpose of robot |
| Cheetham et al, Canada33 | Technical development | Hospitalised children | PEBBLES Telbotics Inc (Canada) | Telepresence (connect hospitalised children to their classroom, support academic and social tasks) |
| Fels et al, Canada34 | Case study | Children who cannot physically attend school | PEBBLES Telbotics Inc (Canada) | Telepresence (connect ill child to school/education, be a physical representation of the child, support academic and social tasks) |
| Kimura et al, Japan35 | Feasibility study | Hospitalised children | AIBO, Necoro cat, Capriro, and other interactive animal soft-toys Sony (Japan), Omron (Japan), Bandai (Japan) | Companion (improve mood and quality of life) |
| Goris et al, Belgium36 | Technical development | Hospitalised children | Probo, Prototype | Inform, support, comfort |
| Looije et al, the Netherlands28 | Experimental design (mixed design) | Diabetes, obesity and coeliac | iCat, Phillips Electronics (the Netherlands) | Motivator, educator, companion/buddy |
| Saldien et al, Belgium37 | Technical development | Hospitalised children | Probo, Prototype | Entertain, communicate, provide medical assistance |
| Goris et al, Belgium38 | Technical development | Hospitalised children | Probo, Prototype | Entertain/play, communicate/inform, provide medical assistance/comfort |
| Marti et al, Italy21 | Technical development and feasibility study | Disabilities (autistic, motor impaired, intellectual disability) | IROMEC, Prototype | Support and stimulate play in educational/therapeutic settings |
| Marti et al, Italy, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands and UK39 | Technical development | Disabilities (autistic, motor impaired, intellectual disability) | IROMEC, Prototype | Companion (engage child in social interactions, empower discovery of a range of play styles) |
| Marti et al, Italy, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands and UK40 | Technical development | Disabilities (autistic, motor impaired, intellectual disability) | IROMEC, Prototype | Companion (engage child in social interactions, empower discovery of a range of play styles) |
| Bernd et al, the Netherlands18 | Single-subject design | Intellectual disabilities | IROMEC, Prototype | Support play in an occupational therapy intervention |
| Böhm et al, Austria41 | Technical development | Disabilities | IROMEC, Prototype | Support and stimulate play |
| Saldien et al, Belgium42 | Technical development | Hospitalised children | Probo, Prototype | Interact with hospitalised children |
| Díaz et al, Spain15 | Feasibility study | Hospitalised children | NAO and Pleo Softbank robotics (Japan), Innvo labs (Hong Kong) | Companion (improve quality of life) |
| Klein et al, the Netherlands43 | Single-subject design | Developmental disabilities | IROMEC, Prototype | Support play in an occupational therapy intervention |
| Lehmann et al, UK16 | Experimental design (within subjects) | Cognitive disabilities | KASPAR and IROMEC, Prototype | Engage in play, facilitate social interaction, facilitate cognitive and social development |
| Lu et al, USA44 | Technical development and feasibility study | Diabetes | Lego Mindstorm NXT Lego (Denmark) | Companion/pet (reduce anxiety and fear) |
| Ros Espinoza et al, Italy45 | Discussion paper | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Companion, instructor, playmate (engage child and support self-management, interact with child) |
| Ros et al, Italy46 | Technical development and feasibility study | Hospitalised children | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Exercise demonstrator, motivator, companion, help develop social skills |
| Saint-Aimé et al, France20 | Technical development and feasibility study | Hospitalised children/vulnerable children | Emi, Prototype | Companion (provide comfort) |
| Csala et al, Hungary47 | Technical development and feasibility study | Hospitalised children (bone-marrow transplant) | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Companion (provide motivation and joy) |
| Looije et al, the Netherlands29 | Experimental design (within subjects) | Diabetes and other chronic conditions | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Education companion |
| Nalin et al, Italy48 | Discussion paper | Diabetes | n/a | n/a |
| Barco et al, Spain49 | Study proposal | Traumatic brain injury | LEGO Mindstorm NXT, Lego (Denmark) | Cognitive rehabilitation (run activities, monitor performance), pet |
| Besio et al, Italy19 | Feasibility study | Disabilities | IROMEC, Prototype | Engage child in play |
| Calderita et al, Spain50 | Feasibility study | Upper limb motor deficits (cerebral/brachial plexus palsy) | Ursus, Prototype | Therapy tool (playmate; exercise coach, engagement, measure and record data) |
| Csala et al, Hungary51 | Feasibility study | Hospitalised children (bone-marrow transplanted) | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Companion (provide motivation and joy) |
| De Greef et al, theNetherlands52 | Case study | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Interact with children |
| Okita, USA26 | Experimental design | Hospitalised children | Paro, Paro robots (Japan) | Companion (reduce anxiety and pain) |
| Ryu et al, Korea53 | Technical development | Children who cannot attend school | Robot under development, Prototype | Telepresence (connect ill child to school/education, reduce social isolation) |
| Alemi et al, Iran24 | Experimental design | Cancer | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Therapy assistant (information, reduce distress) |
| Baroni et al, Italy54 | Interview/focus groups | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Companion/peer (support and assist self-management) |
| Calderita et al, Spain55 | Technical development and feasibility study | Neurorehabilitation | THERAPIST, Prototype | Therapy tool (playmate; coach, engagement, measure and record data) |
| Fridin et al, Israel27 | Technical development and feasibility study | Cerebral palsy | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Therapy coach/exercise demonstrator (motivation, encouragement, feedback) |
| Kozyavkin et al, Ukraine56 | Feasibility study | Cerebral palsy | KineTron, Robotis (South Korea) | Exercise demonstrator/coach (motivate and encourage) |
| Kruijff-Korbayová et al, Italy30 | Experimental design (between subjects) | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Provide long-term support, improve diabetes self-management |
| Lewis et al, UK57 | Technical development | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Improve diabetes management (confront child, bond with child to increase motivation and engagement) |
| Malik et al, Malaysia58 | Technical development and study proposal | Cerebral palsy | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Therapy tool (exercise demonstrator, motivator, companion to improve quality of life) |
| Malik et al, Malaysia59 | Study proposal | Cerebral palsy | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Therapy tool (exercise demonstration, motivation, companion) |
| Messias et al, Portugal60 | Technical development | Hospitalised children | MOnarCH, Prototype | Edutainment |
| Özkul et al, Turkey61 | Technical development and feasibility study | Communication impaired | NAO and Robovie, Softbank robotics (Japan), Vstone Ltd (Japan) | Social peer/assistant (motivate, evaluate effort, give feedback, improve learning and recognition rate) |
| Vélez et al, Ecuador62 | Technical development and feasibility study | Learning and psychosocial disabilities | ROBSNA, Prototype | Interact with children, stimulate play, support special education processes |
| Albo-Canals et al, Spain63 | Technical development and feasibility study | Hospitalised children | Pleo, Innvo labs (Hong Kong) | Companion (reduce anxiety and stress) |
| Alotaibi et al, Saudi Arabia64 | Technical development | Diabetes | Aisoyl V5 Robot, Aisoy Robotics (Spain) | Improve diabetes management (educate/give advice, motivate, monitor, companion) |
| Gonçalves et al, Portugal65 | Technical development | Hospitalised children | MOnarCH Prototype | Interact with hospitalised children |
| Jeong et al, USA66 | Experimental design | Hospitalised children | Huggable, Prototype | Mitigate stress, anxiety, pain |
| Köse et al, Turkey67 | Feasibility study | Communication impaired | Robovie, Vstone Ltd (Japan) | Social peer/assistant (motivate, evaluate effort, give feedback, improve learning and recognition rate) |
| McCarthy et al, Australia68 | Technical development and study proposal | Rehabilitation | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Exercise demonstrator, motivator, distractor, monitoring aid |
| Rabbitt et al, USA31 | Experimental design | Disruptive behaviour problems | n/a | Administer cognitively based treatment |
| Rahman et al, Malaysia69 | Feasibility study | Cerebral palsy | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Exercise demonstrator (motivate and encourage) |
| Alemi et al, Iran25 | Experimental design | Cancer | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Therapy assistant (provide information, reduce distress) |
| Al-Taee et al, UK70 | Feasibility study | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Diabetes management (educate, motivate, monitor, companion) |
| Arnold, USA71 | Technical development | Anxiety | Emobie, Prototype | Companion, communication between children, parents, therapists |
| Bonarini et al, Italy72 | Technical development and feasibility study | Neurodevelopmental disorders | Teo, Prototype | Therapy-driven game-based activities; free play |
| Børsting et al, Norway73 | Feasibility study | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome | Robot-avatars, Prototype | Telepresence (connect ill child to school/education, reduce social isolation, be a physical representation of the child) |
| Cañamero et al, Italy74 | Discussion paper | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Improve diabetes management (educate/give advice, motivate, monitor, companion) |
| Díaz-Boladeras et al, Spain75 | Technical development and feasibility study | Hospitalised children | Pleo, Innvo labs (Hong Kong) | Companion (alleviate anxiety, loneliness, stress) |
| Larriba et al, Spain22 | Technical development | Hospitalised children | Pleo, Innvo labs (Hong Kong) | Reduce pain and anxiety during hospitalisation |
| Looije et al, the Netherlands17 | Feasibility study | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Self-management, educational activities, interact with child |
| Malik et al, Malaysia76 | Feasibility study | Cerebral palsy | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Therapy coach/exercise demonstrator (motivation) |
| Martí Carillo et al, Australia23 | Feasibility study | Cerebral palsy | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Exercise demonstrator; motivator, companion |
| Meghdari et al, Iran77 | Technical development | Cancer | Dr Arash, Prototype | Interact with hospitalised children and improve quality of life |
| Neerincx et al, Italy and the Netherlands78 | Feasibility study | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Improve diabetes management |
| Robles-Bykbaev et al, Ecuador79 | Technical development and experimental design | Disabilities and communication disorders | SPELTRA, Prototype | Speech-language therapy tool (exercises, recreational activities, register patient information and results, remote support) |
| Sequeira et al, Portugal80 | Discussion paper | Socially difficult environments | MOnarCH, Prototype | Edutainment |
| Swift-Spong et al, USA32 | Experimental design | Overweight | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Exercise buddy |
| Ullrich et al, Germany81 | Technical development and interview/focus groups | Children in waiting room prior to medical visit | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Companion (stimulation, empathy, positive coping) |
| Yasemin et al, Turkey82 | Experimental design | Dental | IRobi, Yujin Robot (South Korea) | Distract, entertain, relax, reduce anxiety and pain |
| Blanson Henkemans et al, the Netherlands83 | Discussion paper | Diabetes | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Improve self-management, interact with children in educational activities, provide emotional support |
| Blanson Henkemans et al, the Netherlands14 | Randomised controlled trial (between subjects) | Diabetes and other chronic diseases | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Improve diabetes management (education, educate, provide pleasure, motivate) |
| Gelsomini et al, Italy84 | Technical development | Neurodevelopmental disorders | Puffy, Prototype | Companion (support education and therapeutic interventions, provide multisensory experience) |
| Martí Carillo et al, Australia85 | Technical development and feasibility study | Cerebral palsy | NAO, Softbank robotics (Japan) | Therapy tool (exercise demonstration, motivation, companion) |
| Van den Heuvel et al, the Netherlands86 | Feasibility study | Physical disabilities | IROMEC, Prototype | Support play |