## 3 Results
### Trends  
Focusing on the first two identified keywords in Table 1 to explore articles discussing both the emotional benefits of robots, such as companionship and reducing isolation, as well as their functional benefits, such as aiding with daily tasks, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on PubMed based on title and abstract. The search reveals several notable trends and insights:  
* Historical and Temporal Trends: The earliest studies in this domain date back to 2006, and since then, a total of 400 studies have been published (see Figure 1). Notably, in the last 10 years, 379 studies have been produced, accounting for approximately 95% of the total publications in this field. This remarkable surge indicates a growing research interest and rapid development in social and assistance robotics. Moreover, in the past five years--especially following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic--305 studies have been published, representing around 76% of the overall output (see Figure 1). This recent spike suggests that the current global challenges and advancements in digital health have significantly accelerated research activity.  
Figure 1: Temporal trends in publications on social and assistance robotics (2006–Present).  
* Review Studies: Among the 400 publications (Figure 2), there are the following: A total of 18 reviews, which account for approximately 4.5% of the total. A total of 12 systematic reviews and/or methanolysys, representing about 3% of total. Collectively, these 30 review-type studies constitute around 8% of the overall publication output (see Figure 2). Review-type studies began to emerge in 2017, and in the last five years, 22 out of the total 30 review publications have been developed, which accounts for roughly 73% of the review literature. This concentration of review studies in recent years reflects a maturing field where researchers are beginning to synthesize the existing knowledge and critically evaluate emerging trends and methodologies.
* Comparative Scope within Robotics Literature: When broadening the search using the keyword _(robot[Title/Abstract])_, a total of 36,977 results were retrieved. This extensive number illustrates that while the broader field of robotics is vast, studies specifically focused on social and assistance robotics represent only about 1.1% of the overall literature. This comparatively small percentage highlights that social and assistance robotics, despite their potential, remain a relatively niche and emerging area within the larger robotics research landscape.  
Overall, these findings underscore that the field of social and assistance robotics is rapidly evolving. The significant increase in publications over the last decade--and especially in the past five years--points to an accelerating interest in exploring the integration of these technologies into digital health and cytopathology. This trend emphasizes a promising research opportunity to further develop conceptual designs, innovative applications, and comprehensive models for social and assistance robots. Such advancements are crucial for transforming healthcare practices and enhancing workflow efficiency in digital pathology, while also addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by this emerging field.