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NCT Number: NCT07111910

Virtual Reality Infection Control Training for Healthcare Workers During the Hajj Season

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) training on improving infection control preparedness among healthcare workers during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Does VR training improve healthcare workers' knowledge, confidence, and preparedness for infection control compared to traditional training?

Are there differences in outcomes between the VR training and traditional lecture-based education?

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Key information

Conditions

Infection Control Training Clinical Competence Health Personnel Mass Gathering Medicine Virtual Reality

Age range

20 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

This study explores the use of virtual reality (VR) technology to train healthcare practitioners in infection control during the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest annual gatherings in the world. Infection control is critical in such mass gatherings to prevent the spread of contagious diseases and ensure the safety of millions of attendees.

The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate how effective VR training is in improving healthcare workers' skills, readiness, and confidence in infection prevention and control measures. By immersing participants in realistic, interactive scenarios using VR, the training aims to better prepare them for the complex and fast-paced environment of Hajj healthcare services.

Through this research, we aim to demonstrate whether VR-based training can enhance clinical preparedness more effectively than traditional training methods. The ultimate goal is to support safer healthcare delivery during Hajj and potentially apply this innovative approach to other high-risk healthcare settings worldwide.

This study also considers cultural adaptation to ensure the VR training is relevant and meaningful for healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. The findings could have a significant impact on how infection control education is delivered, improving outcomes for both practitioners and patients.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 20 and above
  • Assigned to work in Hajj healthcare settings
  • Licensed healthcare worker (nurse, physician, EMT, etc.)
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Fluent in Arabic or English

Exclusion criteria

  • History of epilepsy or motion sickness triggered by VR
  • Severe visual or cognitive impairments

Treatment and study plan

Virtual Reality Infection Control Training

Device

This study evaluates a VR training program designed specifically to improve infection control skills among healthcare workers during the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the world's largest mass gatherings. Unlike traditional training, this VR intervention offers immersive, realistic simulations tailored to the unique cultural and environmental challenges of Hajj. It focuses on practical skill-building and clinical readiness in crowded, high-risk settings. Using a rigorous randomized controlled trial design, the study aims to show that VR training is more effective than conventional methods, potentially setting a new standard for infection control education in mass gathering healthcare.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Infection Control Knowledge Score From Baseline to Post-Training

    Time frame: From enrollment to 1 week post-training

    Participants will complete a validated multiple-choice infection control knowledge test. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge. A score improvement of ≥15% is considered clinically meaningful.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Self-Reported Preparedness and Confidence in Infection Control

    Time frame: From enrollment to 1 week post-training

    Measured using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not confident; 5 = very confident). Participants with an increase of ≥1 point in average scores from baseline are considered to have improved.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Mohammed O Alanazi, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+966533993350

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Bisha

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Virtual Reality Training for Infection Control Preparedness in Healthcare Practitioners During Hajj: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Skill Acquisition and Clinical Readiness

Acronym: (VIRTIC-Hajj)

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 8, 2025
Registry last updated
May 7, 2026

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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