Virtual Reality-Enhanced Parent Education in Neonatal Intensive Care

NCT07410858 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 351-12-2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized pilot clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of virtual reality (VR)-enhanced parent education in improving neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) caregiving practices among parents of hospitalized neonates. The study will also examine the safety and tolerability of VR use among parents. Researchers will compare VR-enhanced education with standard NICU parent education to determine whether immersive VR training improves parents' knowledge, confidence, and ability to perform caregiving tasks. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either VR-enhanced education or standard education. Participants receiving VR education will engage in short immersive sessions demonstrating NICU orientation and caregiving procedures. All participants will complete assessments and observations related to caregiving practices and VR tolerability throughout the study period.

Conditions

Neonatal Intensive Care Units; Premature Infant; Parent Education; Virtual Reality; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Keywords

Virtual Reality; Neonatal Intensive Care Units; Parent Education; Premature Infant

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Parental Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Caregiving Practices

  Parental caregiving practices will be assessed using a structured observational checklist measuring performance of bedside neonatal care activities, including hand hygiene, safe positioning and containment, diapering and basic hygiene, and non-nutritive soothing and clustering of care. Each checklist item is scored as completed or not completed, with higher total scores indicating better caregiving practice performance.

  Within 24-48 hours after completion of the parent education intervention

Study Arms (2)

VR-Enhanced Parent Education

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive virtual reality-enhanced parent education including immersive NICU orientation and caregiving simulation sessions delivered using a VR headset, followed by structured debriefing.

Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Enhanced Parent Education

Standard Parent Education

NO INTERVENTION

Participants receive routine NICU parent education including verbal instructions and printed educational materials according to unit standard practice.

Interventions

Virtual Reality-Enhanced Parent Education BEHAVIORAL

Participants receive virtual reality-enhanced parent education including immersive NICU orientation and caregiving simulation sessions delivered using a VR headset, followed by structured debriefing.

Also known as: Standard Parent Education

VR-Enhanced Parent Education

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Parent or legal guardian of a neonate admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) within 72 hours of admission
• Age 18 years or older
• Able to read and understand the study language (Arabic)
• Willing to provide informed consent and participate in study procedures

You may not qualify if:

• Parent with a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, vestibular disorder, or any medical condition that contraindicates virtual reality exposure
• Parent of a neonate expected to be discharged or transferred within 48 hours
• Parent unable to complete study procedures or assessments

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jouf University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Suez Canal University Hospital

Ismailia, Ismailia, Egypt., 41522, Egypt

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Premature Birth; Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obstetric Labor, Premature; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Nadia B. Elsharkawy, Assoc.Prof.

CONTACT

00966554180474; nelsharkawy@ju.edu.sa

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Due to the nature of the educational intervention, participants and care providers cannot be blinded to group assignment. However, trained observers assessing parental caregiving practices and data analysts will remain blinded to allocation to reduce assessment bias.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: This study is a single-center, parallel-group, randomized pilot clinical trial comparing virtual reality-enhanced parent education with standard NICU parent education. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group receiving VR-enhanced education or the control group receiving routine education. Both groups will be followed concurrently to evaluate feasibility, parental knowledge, caregiving practices, and intervention tolerability.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: March 31, 2026
• Study Completion: April 30, 2026
• Last Updated: February 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

EG (1)