Medical Education
Conditions
Keywords
Virtual reality, Clinical simulation, Adherence, Guidelines
Brief summary
In this trial, undergraduate medical students will be randomised to undergo training using a virtual reality simulator (BodyInteract®) or a standard small-group interactive discussion of a clinical scenario. Adherence to current clinical recommendations will be considered as primary outcomes for this study.
Detailed description
Objective: To assess whether a virtual reality simulator might facilitate learning and improve adherence to current clinical guidelines. Methodology: A double-masked randomised trial will be held among students at the School of Medicine of the Universidad Andres Bello. Participants will be randomised to receive training using a clinical virtual simulator (Body Interact®, Body Interact Inc, Austin, TX) designed to review key concepts in Cardiology. Students allocated to the control group will receive a small-group discussion lasting up to 60 minutes in which key topics regarding the same clinical condition will be reviewed as well. Main outcomes include the overall performance in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) that will be reviewed by an expert panel prior to its implementation and adherence to specific recommendations in current national guidelines. This OSCE will be held 15 days after the educational session has taken place. Analyses will be undertaken under the intention to treat principle and missing data will be handled using multiple imputation techniques.
Interventions
DEVICEClinical Virtual Simulator
Interactive medical case delivered using touch-sensitive screens in small group sessions.
OTHERSmall-Group Discussion
Small group discussion led by a physician.
Sponsors
Hospital de Simulación, Universidad Andres Bello
Universidad Nacional Andres Bello
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Outcome assessors, analysts and investigators will be masked in this trial. Due to the intervention's characteristics, it has been deemed impossible to mask participants.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Undergraduate medical student at the Universidad Andrés Bello * Currently undergoing the 4th or 5th year of medical training in Chile * Obtained a passing grade in Cardiology for general physicians.
Exclusion criteria
* Refusal to participate.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants with passing grades in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) | 2 weeks after attending the educational session. | Number of participants with marks over 60% in an OSCE. |
| Marks attained in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) | 2 weeks after attending the educational session. | Marks attained in an OSCE depicting the clinical scenario described in educational sessions. In this examination, the implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions will score marks that will then be compared between groups. |
| Adherence to guideline recommendations | 2 weeks after attending the educational session. | Adherence to specific recommendations in national guidelines relevant to the diagnosis and management of the clinical condition being studied. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Time to solve the clinical scenario | 2 weeks after attending the educational session. | Time required to solve the clinical scenario depicted in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination |
| Time to deliver specific interventions | 2 weeks after attending the educational session. | Time required to implement specific diagnostic and therapeutic interventions relevant to the clinical scenario |
Countries
Chile
Outcome results
None listed