Communication
Conditions
Keywords
Perspective-taking, Empathy, Education, Feasibility
Brief summary
This mixed-methods parallel two-arm trial assessed the feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of a theoretically-informed intervention designed to improve perspective-taking skills in preparation for a future definitive randomized control trial. Using a 1:1 allocation ratio, student participants (N = 163) in Respiratory, Physical, and Occupational Therapy; Nurse Practitioner; and Kinesiology programs at a Canadian university were randomly assigned to full or partial intervention conditions. Full intervention participants completed an online workshop on perspective-taking and practiced perspective-taking prior to an in-lab 10-minute dialogue with a trained client-actor (masked to condition) about the actor's physical inactivity. Partial intervention participants received the workshop after the dialogue, and were instructed to be aware and mindful of the approach that they took to seek understanding. To be considered feasible, outcomes needed to meet or surpass our criteria (e.g., within-course recruitment: 85-95% of a course when embedded within a course, 5-10% when not embedded). Feasibility and appropriateness were assessed by comparing recruitment rates, protocol, and psychometric outcomes to criteria. Acceptability was assessed by analyzing exit interviews. Recruitment rates, protocol, and psychometric outcomes largely met criteria, and the study was acceptable.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALStudent practitioner perspective-taking intervention
This intervention compares the outcomes where some learn about and practice perspective-taking and others do not. All participants received at least a partial intervention through getting video-feedback on their dialogue with a client actor.
Sponsors
University of Manitoba
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Client-actors were masked to condition. Investigators were masked while determining participants' perceptual understanding scores (i.e., how accurate participants were at inferring the client-actor's thoughts and feelings). In-lab research assistants were not masked to condition.
Intervention model description
This randomized mixed-methods parallel two-arm feasibility trial used a 1:1 allocation ratio in Excel. This study's primary purpose was to assess the feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of a randomized pilot trial where some health-care students received a Full educational Intervention on perspective-taking and others received a Partial Intervention.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Must be a student at the University of Manitoba * Must have completed course content on behaviour change communication
Exclusion criteria
* Full intervention participants were excluded from descriptive statistics calculations if they partially completed the workshop or did not complete all phases due to client-actor availability * Data from participating in additional study sessions were excluded
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Appropriateness of Cronbach's alpha as assessed by an alpha above .70 for each measure | Post study completion, after 2 years | To assess appropriateness for inclusion in the definitive trial, we will calculate Cronbach's alpha for each measure. Cronbach's alpha should be at least .70 for each study measure. If there is evidence of low Cronbach's alpha for a measure, then we will consider a different measure for the definitive trial. |
| Adherence for not making a plan of action with the client-actor | Through in-lab completion, an expected average of 2 hours | Percent that adhered to instructions |
| Lab session length | Through in-lab completion, an expected average of 2 hours | Average lab session length, and time participants spent in the lab in hours and minutes |
| Employee training | Through study completion, up to 2 years | Time in hours |
| Appropriateness of measure means as assessed by examining data for floor and ceiling effects | Post study completion, after 2 years | A scale mean will be created for all measures. To assess appropriateness for inclusion in the definitive trial, we will examine the means for floor and ceiling effects. There should be no evidence of floor or ceiling effects in study measures. If there is evidence of extreme means, then we will consider a different measure for the definitive trial. |
| Amount of missing data | Post study completion, after 2 years | To assess appropriateness for inclusion in the definitive trial, the amount of missing data will be examined for each measure. There should be no more than 5% for each study measure. If there is evidence of excessive missing data for a measure, then we will consider a different measure for the definitive trial. |
| Recruitment rate when embedded within a course | Within 2 years of study commencement (February 2018 - December 2019) | 85-95% recruitment rate |
| Recruitment rate when not embedded within a course | Within 2 years of study commencement (February 2018 - December 2019) | 5-10% recruitment rate |
| Recruitment time | Within 2 years of study commencement (February 2018 - December 2019) | Time to finish recruiting in years |
| Program recruitment | Within 2 years of study commencement (February 2018 - December 2019) | Count of number of participants per program |
| Workshop completion | Prior to in-lab participation | Percent that completed all pages of the workshop |
| Practice time length | Prior to in-lab participation | Time in weeks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Integration rate | Prior to the study period | Count of how many instructors embedded the course into their study |
| Participant demographics | At baseline | Counts and percentages |
| Prior communication training | At baseline | Counts and percentages for self-reported training |
| Acceptability | Post study completion, after 2 years | Examining exit interviews and field notes using manifest content analysis and constant comparison techniques |
| Instructor interest | At time of contact through study completion, up to 2 years | Count of instructors who express interest in the study |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed