A Comparison Between Physical and Virtual Simulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT ID: NCT04330924

Last Updated: 2020-04-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 120 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2019-12-31

Brief Summary

Nurse-physician communication skills can be improve through inter-professional team training. Simulation is often used to conduct these training. However, constraints to conduct these sessions such as scheduling and logistic arrangements have been widely reported. Thus with the advancement of technology in education, the use of virtual environment to conduct the team training is being explored and evaluated.

Detailed Description

All recruited participants underwent a 3-hour nurse-physician communication training prior to the simulation session. Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) curriculum and pre-learning videos were introduced to the participants. Pre-test questionnaires were administered after the training. Participants were then randomized to the control (live simulation) or intervention group (virtual simulation).

Intervention group participants will undergo a virtual simulation session training via the multi-user virtual world by logging in into the 3D virtual environment while participants in the control group performed the simulations in a physical simulated ward setting. Each pair of 1 medical student and 1 nursing student participate in two role-playing simulation scenarios (15-20 minutes each) along with a facilitator who will provide a debrief (30-minutes). Prior to the simulation, participants were given a smart-watch to monitor their physiological parameters such as heart rate. Post-test questionnaires were administered after the simulation sessions.

After the simulation training, a 30-minutes team-based assessments were conducted based on a inter-professional bedside care scenario in pairs of one medical and one nursing student within their randomized group. The assessments were video recorded for evaluation by assessors who are blinded to the groupings. All participants were then invited to complete a follow-up questionnaire 2 months after the simulation training.

Conditions

Interdisciplinary Communication

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Virtual Reality

3D avatar in a virtual simulation environment

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Create Real-life Experience And Teamwork In Virtual Environment (CREATIVE)

Intervention Type: OTHER

3D virtual hospital environment where participants can perform physical and social interaction and presence using avatars.

Live Simulation

Live-based simulation in a simulation ward

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Create Real-life Experience And Teamwork In Virtual Environment (CREATIVE)

3D virtual hospital environment where participants can perform physical and social interaction and presence using avatars.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

i) Full time students undertaking National University of Singapore's

• Third or fourth year Bachelor of Science (Nursing)
• Third or fourth year Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery

ii) Completed acute care management modules

Exclusion Criteria

i) Does not voluntarily agree to join the study

ii) Does not want their performance to be video-recorded

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National University of Singapore

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Liaw Sok Ying

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

National University of Singapore

Singapore, , Singapore

Countries

Singapore

References

Liaw SY, Sutini, Chua WL, Tan JZ, Levett-Jones T, Ashokka B, Te Pan TL, Lau ST, Ignacio J. Desktop Virtual Reality Versus Face-to-Face Simulation for Team-Training on Stress Levels and Performance in Clinical Deterioration: a Randomised Controlled Trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Jan;38(1):67-73. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07557-7. Epub 2022 May 2.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 35501626 (View on PubMed)

Liaw SY, Ooi SW, Rusli KDB, Lau TC, Tam WWS, Chua WL. Nurse-Physician Communication Team Training in Virtual Reality Versus Live Simulations: Randomized Controlled Trial on Team Communication and Teamwork Attitudes. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Apr 8;22(4):e17279. doi: 10.2196/17279.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 32267235 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

S-17-107

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id