In your own time

Abstract

Every year 550 children are diagnosed with a cancer in the Netherlands. Currently a new hospital is being built in Utrecht, the Prinses Maxima Centrum for child Oncology, this hospital will focus solely on paediatric oncology.

The families that deal with child cancer have to go to the hospital frequently and spend long days there. These days are filled with different appointments and treatments so there is a lot of waiting involved. These waiting times can make the parents feel stressed and the children feel anxious, this results in an elongated waiting experience.

In order to decrease the stress and anxiety the parents and children experience a system was created that provides the families with information and distraction. This system consists of an app for the parents and a basic wearable on a bracelet for the children. Furthermore, the system makes use of portals and patches which create an interactive environment. This system makes it possible for the families to receive notifications about waiting times and can be used to play a game, Parent and child can track each other and send messages to each other. The system gives the parents a sense of control and gives the children a sense of freedom and provides them both with a form of distraction.