NCT07542834

Brief Summary

As the U.S. population ages, future physicians must be prepared to care for older adults with multiple health conditions and complex needs. This study will test whether cinematic virtual reality (VR)-an immersive, interactive learning tool-is more effective than traditional lectures in helping medical students learn about geriatric care. Students who complete the VR training will experience realistic patient scenarios that show what can go wrong in medical care and learn how to apply osteopathic principles to improve outcomes. Researchers will compare students' performance on a clinical skills assessment and explore their experiences with the VR training. The goal is to determine whether cinematic virtual reality can better prepare students for residency and improve their ability to provide compassionate, high-quality care for older adults.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
100

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
14mo left

Started Apr 2026

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress5%
Apr 2026Jun 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 14, 2026

Completed
1 day until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 15, 2026

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 21, 2026

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2026

Expected
6 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 30, 2027

Last Updated

April 21, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

9 months

First QC Date

April 14, 2026

Last Update Submit

April 14, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

virtual reality, type 2 diabetes, geriatric syndromes, disability, elder abuse and neglect

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Number of Participants with Passing Score on Graduate Medical Education Readiness Assessment

    Participants will be asked to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the standardized patient, Henry Johnson. The case is based on a virtual patient case from the American Geriatric Society and the American Board of Medical Specialties. All participants will have 20 minutes to perform the clinical visit. The comprehensive evaluation will be filmed for all participants in the medical school's clinical skills examination rooms. Osteopathic physicians not involved in the study will be invited to score the videos of the participants' comprehensive evaluations. Graders will be blinded to the trial arm.

    From enrollment to the end of the graduate medical education readiness assessment at 6 weeks.

Study Arms (2)

Traditional didactic lecture arm

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will receive a traditional lecture on geriatric medication that covers medication, mentation, mobility, what matters to older adults, nutrition and hydration, and the integration of osteopathic tenets into geriatric care.

Behavioral: Traditional Didactic Lecture

Cinematic virtual reality training arm

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants randomly assigned to the cinematic virtual reality training will view 6 episodes about an older adult with multiple geriatric syndromes, chronic health conditions, disabilities, and significant social needs, who is also vulnerable to elder abuse and neglect. The content will cover medication, mentation, mobility, what matters most for older adults, nutrition and hydration, and osteopathic tenets.

Behavioral: Cinematic Virtual Reality Training

Interventions

The participants randomly assigned to the cinematic virtual reality training will view 6 virtual reality episodes of an older adult, Mr. Chen, with multiple geriatric syndromes, chronic health conditions, disabilities, and significant social needs, who is also vulnerable to elder abuse and neglect. The content will cover medication, mentation, mobility, what matters most for older adults, nutrition and hydration, and osteopathic tenets.

Cinematic virtual reality training arm

Participants randomized to the traditional didactic lecture will receive a lecture on geriatric care that includes medication, mentation, mobility, what matters most for older adults, nutrition and hydration, and osteopathic tenets.

Traditional didactic lecture arm

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Ohio University

Athens, Ohio, 45701, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Beverly EA, Miller S, Love M, Love C. Feasibility of a Cinematic-Virtual Reality Program Educating Health Professional Students About the Complexity of Geriatric Care: Pilot Pre-Post Study. JMIR Aging. 2025 Feb 12;8:e64633. doi: 10.2196/64633.

    PMID: 39937111BACKGROUND

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Urinary Tract InfectionsConfusion

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Diabetes MellitusGlucose Metabolism DisordersMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesEndocrine System DiseasesInfectionsUrologic DiseasesFemale Urogenital DiseasesFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesMale Urogenital DiseasesNeurobehavioral ManifestationsNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Elizabeth A Beverly, PhD

    Ohio University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Elizabeth A Beverly, PhD

CONTACT

Jennifer Gwilym, DO

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: We propose a two-arm, parallel designed, randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of a 360-degree cinematic virtual reality training to a standard didactic lecture.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 14, 2026

First Posted

April 21, 2026

Study Start

April 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2027

Last Updated

April 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

De-identified individual participant data (IPD), including GME Readiness Assessment scores and demographic variables, will be shared with qualified researchers upon request. Data will be available within 12 months of publication and remain accessible for five years. Interested researchers must submit a methodologically sound proposal and sign a data use agreement to ensure confidentiality. Requests will be reviewed by the study team for scientific merit and ethical compliance.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
Time Frame
Data will be available within 12 months of publication and remain accessible for five years.
Access Criteria
Access to the IPD will be granted to qualified researchers who submit a scientifically sound proposal, agree to a data use agreement protecting confidentiality, and receive approval from the study team.
More information

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