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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT03976388

Virtual Clinical Simulation for Training Amongst Undergraduate Medical Students: A Pilot Randomised Trial

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Medical Education

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hospital de Simulación, Universidad Andrés Bello

Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, 2531015, Chile

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan

Clinical Virtual Simulator

Device

Interactive medical case delivered using touch-sensitive screens in small group sessions.

Other names: BodyInteract(R)

Small-Group Discussion

Other

Small group discussion led by a physician.

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of participants with passing grades in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

    Time frame: 2 weeks after attending the educational session.

    Number of participants with marks over 60% in an OSCE.

  2. Marks attained in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

    Time frame: 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.

  3. Adherence to guideline recommendations

    Time frame: 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 outcomes

  1. Time to solve the clinical scenario

    Time frame: 2 weeks after attending the educational session.

    Time required to solve the clinical scenario depicted in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination

  2. Time to deliver specific interventions

    Time frame: 2 weeks after attending the educational session.

    Time required to implement specific diagnostic and therapeutic interventions relevant to the clinical scenario

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Nacional Andres Bello

Other

Collaborators

  • Hospital de Simulación, Universidad Andres Bello

Registry information

Official study title

Virtual Clinical Simulation Amongst Undergraduate Medical Students

Acronym: VIRTUE-Pilot

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Jun 6, 2019
Registry last updated
Oct 23, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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