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Using Real-Time Lung Visuals to Reduce Mental Strain and Improve Diagnosis Speed

Effect of Real-Time Respiratory Mechanics Visualization ("Digital Twin") on Clinician Cognitive Workload and Diagnostic Latency: A Randomized Crossover Simulation Trial

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07511712
Acronym
VERDICT
Enrollment
34
Registered
2026-04-06
Start date
2026-04-15
Completion date
2026-07-31
Last updated
2026-04-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Clinical Competence, Education Curriculum, Mechanical Ventilation, Self Concept

Keywords

medical simulation, mechanical ventilation, clinical competence, mental pressure load

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical simulation study is to learn if a "Digital Twin" graphical lung display reduce the mental workload of clinicians. The study also evaluates if this helps physicians diagnose and manage ventilator-related crises more effectively than standard ventilator screens. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the Digital Twin display lower the cognitive stress (mental workload) experienced by clinicians during a crisis? Does the Digital Twin display reduce the time it takes for clinicians to identify specific respiratory complications? Does the use of real-time physiological visualization improve the accuracy of clinical decision-making? Researchers will compare the performance of clinicians using a standard ventilator display (the "Black Box" condition) to their performance when provided with an additional synchronized 3D lung and advanced waveform display (the "Digital Twin" condition). Participants will: Complete four randomized mechanical ventilation crisis scenarios using a high-fidelity lung simulator (ASL 5000). Manage scenarios involving high airway resistance, low lung compliance, auto-PEEP, and patient-ventilator asynchrony. Undergo a 14-day "washout" period between sessions to ensure no memory bias between the control and intervention groups. Complete a NASA-TLX survey after each scenario to measure their perceived mental, physical, and temporal demand.

Interventions

DEVICEReal-time Graphical Lung Function Visualization (Digital Twin)

This intervention consists of a high-fidelity graphical display that translates raw simulator data into synchronized 3D animations and advanced physiological waveforms. It provides continuous visualization of, Muscle Pressure (Pmus), and the Equation of Motion components (Resistive vs. Elastic pressure) to assist in clinical diagnosis.

OTHERStandard Ventilator Waveform Monitoring

This intervention represents the current standard of care in mechanical ventilation monitoring. Clinicians are limited to the pressure-time and flow-time waveforms provided by the mechanical ventilator interface. Diagnostic assessments of lung mechanics (Resistance and Compliance) must be performed using manual ventilator maneuvers, such as inspiratory and expiratory holds.

Sponsors

Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Licensed physicians currently practicing in intensive care units (ICU), neuro-intensive care units (NICU), or respiratory departments. * For the Junior Stratum: Physicians currently in a standardized residency training program or in their first two years of a sub-specialty fellowship. For the Senior Stratum: Senior attending physicians or senior fellows with more than 5 years of experience in intensive care medicine. * Basic proficiency in operating the mechanical ventilators used in the study (e.g., Hamilton, Dräger, or Puritan Bennett). * Willingness to participate in two simulation sessions separated by a 14-day interval.

Exclusion criteria

* Prior formal training or significant experience using the ASL 5000 / RespiSim "Digital Twin" or Aurora interface. * Physical limitations that prevent the operation of a mechanical ventilator or the viewing of a digital monitor. * Refusal to provide informed consent for video recording of the simulation session for data adjudication.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Perceived Mental Workload (NASA Task Load Index)Within 5 minutes following the completion of each 10-minute simulation scenario.The total workload score as measured by the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). This validated tool assesses six dimensions: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration level. Each dimension is scored on a scale of 0 to 100. The weighted average provides a "Global Workload Score." Higher scores represent a higher perceived cognitive burden.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to Correct Diagnosis (Diagnostic Latency)From the onset of the simulated respiratory crisis until the participant verbalizes the correct diagnosis, assessed during each 10-minute simulation scenario.The duration (in seconds) from the initiation of a respiratory crisis (T=120s) until the participant accurately identifies the underlying pathophysiology (e.g., Bronchospasm, Atelectasis, Auto-PEEP, or Double Triggering). This is measured by an independent observer using a synchronized stopwatch. Lower times indicate higher diagnostic efficiency.
Diagnostic Accuracy RateAssessed at the conclusion of each 10-minute simulation scenario.The percentage of participants who correctly identify the respiratory complication within the allotted 10-minute scenario time. A diagnosis is marked "Correct" or "Incorrect" based on pre-defined criteria for each of the four scenarios.

Countries

China

Contacts

CONTACTReng Ren, M.D.
renreng1203@zju.edu.cn086-13486111524

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 14, 2026