Development of a Virtual Pet Simulator for Pain and Stress Distraction for Pediatric Patients using Intelligent Techniques

Pediatric medical procedures are often stressful and painful for children, so they can resist and make the work of doctors and nurses a little more complicated. This research aims to develop a virtual pet simulator to distract pediatric patients from pain and stress using smart techniques. The methodology used is SUM. The primary data for the development of the simulator were gravity, the player’s position, the speed, and the mass for the calculation of the predictive physics in the toy to interact with the pet. As part of the intelligent techniques, the A-star algorithm was used for the pet to follow the user and the flocking algorithm to have a natural behavior of a group of animals and thus have a higher immersion level. Trials were conducted with pediatric patients where those who made use of the virtual pet simulator during the medical procedure felt less pain and stress than those who did not try the simulator. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use alternatives such as the one developed to reduce pain and stress in pediatric patients.