QOL-15. Life happens wherever you are! Use of Avatar AV1 to enhance Health-Related Quality of Life, Sense of Belonging and Social Inclusion in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Illnesses

BACKGROUND: Due to regular hospital check-ups, inpatient treatments, or a weakened immune system, children with brain tumors experience frequent and long absences from school and social activities. Returning to school presents a challenge for these patients, as they experience reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL), decreased sense of belonging and a lack of social inclusion in class. To prevent social and emotional problems, telepresence systems such as the Avatar AV1 are described as promising approach for pediatric patients. OBJECTIVES: To sustainably improve social inclusion in times of illness-related absence for these patients, the first study in Austria investigating effects of the use of the Avatar is pursuing both, a qualitative and quantitative approach. METHODS: To examine effects on social inclusion, sense of belonging and HRQOL in pediatric patients, interviews were conducted with patients, their parents, teachers and classmates within the qualitative approach and questionnaires were administered at three times (before -, after 6 months Avatar-use and 3 months after returning the Avatar) within the quantitative approach. The sample consists of pediatric patients (6 to 18 years). RESULTS: Categories from n=24 interviews indicate that a positive attitude towards and identification with the Avatar as well as the patients’ psychological condition and social inclusion into class before the illness play major roles. Preliminary findings from the ongoing longitudinal quantitative survey indicate that the Avatar has significant positive and stabilizing effects on HRQOL, sense of belonging and social inclusion of pediatric patients. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to describe the impact of Avatar use on social inclusion in children with brain tumors. To strengthen the sense of belonging in these children, the pedagogical-interactional component needs to be brought in focus. Through pedagogical-didactical adaptions, a routine handling of and a positive attitude towards the telepresence system, pediatric patients highly benefit from the Avatar.