SchoolCare uses telepresence robots, school navigation, and teleteaching to keep children with cancer connected to school.
SchoolCare: A Social Intervention Introducing Telepresence Robots and School Navigation to Reduce School Fragmentation for Children Undergoing Cancer Treatment - Study Protocol of a Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
This program will test whether telepresence robots combined with school navigation and teleteaching help children aged 5–17 undergoing cancer treatment stay linked to school and improve attendance, learning, and social well-being.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 128 (estimated) |
| Ages | 5 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rigshospitalet, Denmark Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Aalborg and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07398677 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
SchoolCare is a multi-site, two-arm randomized controlled trial conducted at three pediatric oncology centers in Denmark (Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg). Participants are randomly assigned to receive a package that includes a telepresence robot, a dedicated school navigator, teleteaching, and technical support, versus usual care. The trial targets children expected to miss substantial school time during treatment and measures outcomes such as school attendance, academic level, and social well-being over an eight-month period. The intervention aims to combine technology and coordination to reduce fragmented schooling and support psychosocial adjustment during treatment.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children aged 5–17 treated at the participating Danish pediatric oncology centers who were diagnosed or had relevant disease events within two months and are expected to miss more than one school day per week over an eight-month period are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children who cannot communicate in Danish, who are physically unable to use or engage with telepresence technology, who already maintain regular school attendance, or who obtain a telepresence robot outside the program are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce school absences, support continuous learning, and improve social connectedness for children during cancer treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Telepresence robots have been used to support classroom participation for other medical groups, but no rigorous randomized trials have yet demonstrated benefit specifically for children undergoing cancer treatment.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Children and adolescents are eligible for inclusion if they meet the following criteria: they are: (1) diagnosed with cancer or cancer-like diseases withing two months of inclusion (e.g., benign brain tumors, MDS, or LCH ); (2) have undergone a stem cell transplant, or have experienced cancer relapse or disease progression within the two months of inclusion; (3) aged 5-17 years; (4) admitted to the pediatric oncology ward at Copenhagen University Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, or Aalborg University Hospital; (5) expected to experience disrupted schooling, defined as absence of more than one school day per week over an anticipated period of eight months; and (6) enrolled, or expected enrolment, in a school in Denmark during the eight month intervention period. Participants will be excluded if: (1) the children in intervention arm B obtain a telepresence robot outside of the SchoolCare intervention; (2) the child is unable to communicate in Danish; or (3) the child has physical or cognitive impairments that prevent them from operating or meaningfully engaging with the telepresence robot. Assessment of the latter criterion will be conducted jointly by hospital personnel and the school navigator to determine whether the child is likely to benefit from participation in the intervention. All reasons for exclusion will be documented and reported in accordance with CONSORT guidelines \[47\] supplemented by the CONSORT-SPI extended version of social and psychological interventions \[48\]. Parents and teachers of the participating children will also be included in the study and invited to complete questionnaires as well as take part in semi-structured interviews. Recruitment began on February 1st, 2026.
Where this trial is running
Aalborg and 2 other locations
- Aalborg Universitetshospital — Aalborg, Denmark (Recruiting)
- Aarhus Universitetshospital — Aarhus, Denmark (Recruiting)
- Rigshospitalet — Copenhagen, Denmark (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Hanne B Larsen
- Email: hanne.baekgaard.larsen@regionh.dk
- Phone: 34459647
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.