Virtual Reality to Teach, Improve Outcomes, and Engage (VIRTUE): Virtual Reality to Improve Gluten-Free Diet Knowledge in Pediatric Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease in Children

1. Specific Aim (1) is to assess both the immediate and longer term impact of VIRTUE on the patient's GFD knowledge compared to standard of care (SOC) dietary education. 2. Specific Aim (2) is to determine the impact of VIRTUE on patient QoL, symptomatology, and Celiac biomarkers (tissue transglutaminase antibodies, deamidated gliadin peptide IgA, deamidated gliadin peptide IgG, and total serum IgA).

The global burden of Celiac Disease (CD) is estimated to be 1% in Western countries and 0.7-1.4% of the global population.The only treatment for CD is a strict, lifelong Gluten Free Diet (GFD). However, dietary adherence is the main barrier against disease control. Whereas experiential learning, learning through experience, has been associated with greater impact in achieving desired nutritional outcomes in pediatric populations. Replicating the environments in which patients would make food choices in clinic is not feasible. Previous research, in addition to preliminary results indicate that Virtual reality (VR) may act as an effective precursor to the real world by providing a safe and immersive learning environment. As such, the investigators seek to investigate how VR use to Teach, Improve Outcomes, and Engage (VIRTUE) will affect patient GFD knowledge, QoL, symptoms, and CD biomarkers. The central hypothesis will tested through the following specific aims: 1. Specific Aim (1) is to assess the immediate and long-term impact of VIRTUE on children's GFD knowledge compared to SOC education. The investigators hypothesize that VIRTUE with SOC education, will improve children's GFD knowledge by 10-20%, opposed to SOC alone 2. Specific Aim (2) is to determine the impact of VIRTUE on patient QoL. The investigators hypothesize that VIRTUE with SOC education, will improve children's QoL scores, opposed to SOC alone. 3. Specific Aim (3) is to determine the impact of VIRTUE on decline of CD biomarkers (tissue transglutaminase antibodies and deamidated gliadin peptide IgG). The investigators hypothesize that VIRTUE with SOC education, will reduce levels of CD biomarkers faster, compared to SOC alone.

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