Self-Guided Immersive Virtual Reality Versus Mannequin-based Simulators to Teach the Ultrasound-Guided Supra-Inguinal Fascia Iliaca Block

NCT07035015 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 20240340-01H
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research project aims to see if using immersive virtual reality (iVR) is as good as using traditional mannequins to teach medical staff how to perform a specific nerve block called an ultrasound-guided supra-inguinal fascia iliaca (SIFI) block. This nerve block is important for managing pain in patients with hip fractures, as it can improve recovery, shorten hospital stays, and reduce healthcare costs. Currently, not enough eligible hip fracture patients receive these beneficial nerve blocks. The study will recruit 36 staff and trainees from anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and orthopedic surgery at The Ottawa Hospital. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will learn the SIFI block using a newly developed iVR simulator that uses real human anatomy and allows for practice of needling and injecting. The other group will use traditional mannequin-based simulators. All participants will receive educational materials and videos before their training. Their skills will be tested before the training, immediately after, and again one month later using a hybrid simulator (a combination of a mannequin and a soft embalmed human cadaver part). The main thing being measured is their skill level using a standardized scoring system. The study also wants to see if the iVR simulator is well-tolerated by users. The overall goal is to improve care for hip fracture patients through better, more accessible training for medical staff.

Conditions

Nerve Block; Hip Fracture Surgeries

Keywords

Virtual Reality; Ultrasound-guided Regional Anesthesia; Simulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia Global Rating Scale

  The primary outcome is the summation of the UGRA Global Rating Scale (GRS), which is a valid assessment tool to score trainees' performance in UGRA. Previous studies have found a strong correlation in the GRS score between simulated and real clinical settings. The minimum score is 9 and maximum score is 35. A high score represents better procedural performance.

  From enrolment until the 1 month retention.

Study Arms (2)

Virtual reality UGRA

EXPERIMENTAL

The simulator applied principles of cognitive task analysis, which is a method aimed at describing the knowledge, cognitive process, and goal structures experts rely upon while performing a complex procedure

Other: VR UGRA

Mannequin simulation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The hybrid simulator will consist of a 3G mannequin and a gel-based part-task trainer.

Other: Mannequin-based simulation

Interventions

VR UGRA OTHER

The simulator applied principles of cognitive task analysis, which is a method aimed at describing the knowledge, cognitive process, and goal structures experts rely upon while performing a complex procedure

Virtual reality UGRA

Mannequin-based simulation OTHER

The hybrid simulator will consist of a 3G mannequin and a gel-based part-task trainer.

Mannequin simulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Staff and trainees from anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and orthopedic surgery. All participants will be locally recruited within The Ottawa Hospital

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Ottawa Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Ottawa Hospital

Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6, Canada

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Yuqi Gu, MD FRCPC

CONTACT

(613)737-8187; yugu@toh.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Staff Anesthesiologist and Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2025
• First Posted: June 24, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2025
• Study Completion: November 1, 2025
• Last Updated: June 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)