Immersive Mixed Reality Simulation to Evoke Empathy

NCT06351397 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 75021
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 81
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a quantifiable study evaluating the ability of a mixed reality (MR), immersive simulation experience to evoke empathy in anesthesiology trainees. Quantitative methodologies will be employed using standardized questionnaires including the The Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy for Health Professions Students, (HP-version). Trainees will assess their preliminary, baseline empathy using the Jefferson Scale and after the simulation and debrief, will reassess empathy scores, once again using the Jefferson Scale. A satisfaction survey to assess simulated patient embodiment as a valuable exercise and contributor to empathy education curriculum.

Conditions

Educational Problems

Keywords

Virtual Reality

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in self-reported empathy from before and after the simulation

  Measured with Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy for physicians and other practicing health professionals (HP-Version). The survey contains 20 item with 7-point scale, 1 indicates strongly disagree and 7 indicates strongly agree (a higher number on the scale indicates more agreement).

  baseline, immediately after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Satisfaction of Design Features of the Simulation

  immediately after the intervention

• Evaluation of the CHARM system's usability

  immediately after simulation

• Evaluation of the CHARM system's ergonomics

  immediately after simulation

Study Arms (2)

Mixed Reality Group

EXPERIMENTAL

In the MR group, the simulation instructor will explain the scope of the simulation embodiment experience and equip a weighted vest on the participant as they are asked to lay on a hospital patient gurney, seated upright. The participant, who is wearing a weighted vest to simulate an anterior mediastinal mass, will be asked to be seated upright and will view various holograms including vitals monitors, hear hospital related sounds via the headset, and also see additional holographic assets including intravenous polls and a defibrillator as well as experience heat (simulating a fever) from heat lamps. The simulation instructor will play the role of a physician who is using good communication skills based on the Calgary-Cambridge Guide to review a scripted consent for a high risk biopsy under sedation that may require life saving interventions such as extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO).

Behavioral: Mixed Reality (MR)

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In the control group, there will be no headset, no heat lamps, and no weighted vest and the participant will rely on their imagination to embody the teenager while lying in the simulation room bed while being consented for the same procedure as the MR group.

Behavioral: Control

Interventions

Mixed Reality (MR) BEHAVIORAL

Mixed Reality simulation of medical crisis scenarios. MR headset - a device that the participants will wear over their head and eyes and will add holographic elements to a live view of workplace training scenario

Mixed Reality Group

Control BEHAVIORAL

Tradition simulation of medical crisis scenarios.

Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Trainees or personnel working and/or volunteering at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford / Stanford Health Care facilities
• years and older

You may not qualify if:

• a history of severe motion sickness
• currently have nausea
• have a history of seizures
• are uncomfortable wearing a \~7 pound weighted vest.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Stanford University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford

Palo Alto, California, 94303, United States

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 1, 2024
• First Posted: April 8, 2024
• Study Start: January 24, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 8, 2025
• Study Completion: October 8, 2025
• Last Updated: January 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

US (1)