The CareRabbit

The CareRabbit (ZorgKonijn) is an e-health device that can be used to play messages (e.g. text, MP3) sent through the Internet. It is used in children's departments in hospitals. Its aim is to make children feel comfortable and make their stay more pleasant. Research approach -- During the study, we will conduct a pilot study in five hospital paediatrics departments. We will administer questionnaires about quality of life to admitted children and their parents with a CareRabbit and a control group without a CareRabbit (N = 200). Also, we will develop a business case to gain insight in the organization and funding of the CareRabbit. This business case will be based on a practice oriented design research with literature research, interviews, and the STOF-model. Findings/Design -- The research is currently in its first phase and this paper presents preliminary results. Our experiences are that the stakeholders are enthusiastic. Moreover, children with the CareRabbit feel more at ease and connected to home and experience their hospital stay as more pleasant. In turn, this could lead to shorter hospital stays. Research limitations/Implications -- The average stay of children in a hospital in the Netherlands is four to five days. Therefore two different groups are compared, instead of measuring the effect of the CareRabbit per child. Because the pilots will only last two to three months, long-term results cannot be elicited from the research findings. Motivation -- Our goal is to investigate the added value of the CareRabbit for children and other stakeholders (e.g. relatives of the child, hospitals, insurance companies) and give advice on how to further develop and implement the CareRabbit (e.g. functionalities, support, organization and distribution).