Virtual Reality Infection Control Training for Healthcare Workers During the Hajj Season

NCT ID: NCT07111910

Last Updated: 2025-08-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 200 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-20
• Study Completion Date: 2027-04-01

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) training on improving infection control preparedness among healthcare workers during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Does VR training improve healthcare workers' knowledge, confidence, and preparedness for infection control compared to traditional training?

Are there differences in outcomes between the VR training and traditional lecture-based education?

Detailed Description

This study explores the use of virtual reality (VR) technology to train healthcare practitioners in infection control during the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest annual gatherings in the world. Infection control is critical in such mass gatherings to prevent the spread of contagious diseases and ensure the safety of millions of attendees.

The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate how effective VR training is in improving healthcare workers' skills, readiness, and confidence in infection prevention and control measures. By immersing participants in realistic, interactive scenarios using VR, the training aims to better prepare them for the complex and fast-paced environment of Hajj healthcare services.

Through this research, we aim to demonstrate whether VR-based training can enhance clinical preparedness more effectively than traditional training methods. The ultimate goal is to support safer healthcare delivery during Hajj and potentially apply this innovative approach to other high-risk healthcare settings worldwide.

This study also considers cultural adaptation to ensure the VR training is relevant and meaningful for healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. The findings could have a significant impact on how infection control education is delivered, improving outcomes for both practitioners and patients.

Conditions

Infection Control Training; Clinical Competence; Virtual Reality; Health Personnel; Mass Gathering Medicine

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

VR infection control training

Delivered via a headset-based immersive environment designed specifically for Hajj mass gathering scenarios. Training duration is 30-40 minutes and includes interactive modules and performance-based feedback.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality Infection Control Training

Intervention Type: DEVICE

This study evaluates a VR training program designed specifically to improve infection control skills among healthcare workers during the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the world's largest mass gatherings. Unlike traditional training, this VR intervention offers immersive, realistic simulations tailored to the unique cultural and environmental challenges of Hajj. It focuses on practical skill-building and clinical readiness in crowded, high-risk settings. Using a rigorous randomized controlled trial design, the study aims to show that VR training is more effective than conventional methods, potentially setting a new standard for infection control education in mass gathering healthcare.

Traditional Training Arm

Participants in this arm will attend a standard infection control lecture, presented in PowerPoint format by an infection control expert. Content mirrors the topics covered in the VR module but is delivered passively.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Virtual Reality Infection Control Training

This study evaluates a VR training program designed specifically to improve infection control skills among healthcare workers during the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the world's largest mass gatherings. Unlike traditional training, this VR intervention offers immersive, realistic simulations tailored to the unique cultural and environmental challenges of Hajj. It focuses on practical skill-building and clinical readiness in crowded, high-risk settings. Using a rigorous randomized controlled trial design, the study aims to show that VR training is more effective than conventional methods, potentially setting a new standard for infection control education in mass gathering healthcare.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 20 and above
• Assigned to work in Hajj healthcare settings
• Licensed healthcare worker (nurse, physician, EMT, etc.)
• Able to provide informed consent
• Fluent in Arabic or English

Exclusion Criteria

• History of epilepsy or motion sickness triggered by VR
• Severe visual or cognitive impairments

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Bisha

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Mohammed Alanazi

Dr. Mohammed Alanazi, PhD, MSN, RN

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Noha M Ibrahim, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Bisha

Mohammed O Alanazi, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Bisha

Central Contacts

Mohammed O Alanazi, PhD

Role: CONTACT

malanazi@ub.edu.sa

+966533993350

Related Links

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10758-023-09713-2

A Systematic Review of Virtual Reality Features for Skill Training

Other Identifiers

Ubisha-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id