Efficacy of VR Educational Program on Empathy and Attitudes Toward Dementia in Caregivers

• Sponsor: Taipei Medical University (Other)
• Overall Status: Not yet recruiting
• CT.gov ID: NCT06072274
• Collaborator: (none)
• Enrollment: 600
• Arms: 2
• Anticipated Duration (Months): 14.6

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effect of VR educational program on improving attitude and empathy toward dementia among caregivers. We plan to recruit around 600 participants and randomly assign them to either a control group or an experimental group. The experimental group will participate in a dementia educational program combining VR lasting approximately 2-3 hours. Data would be collected from related questionnaires to investigate whether combining VR with dementia education can effectively improve participants' empathy and attitude toward dementia.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Dementia; Caregiver Burden	Other: The virtual reality educational modules	N/A

Detailed Description

This study aims to evaluate the effect of VR educational program on improving attitude and empathy toward dementia among caregivers. We plan to recruit around 600 participants and randomly assign them to either a control group or an experimental group. The control group will receive traditional education on dementia which is primarily taught by instructors. The experimental group will participate in a dementia educational program combining VR lasting approximately 2-3 hours. The virtual reality educational modules predominantly offer first-person narratives that delineate various symptoms associated with dementia. Before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the traditional and VR educational program, all participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about dementia empathy and attitude to explore whether combining VR with dementia education can effectively improve participants' empathy and attitude toward dementia.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Anticipated Enrollment: 600 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Official Title: Efficacy of Virtual Reality Educational Program on Empathy and Attitudes Toward Dementia in Caregivers
• Anticipated Study Start Date: Oct 14, 2023
• Anticipated Primary Completion Date: Dec 31, 2024
• Anticipated Study Completion Date: Dec 31, 2024

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Dementia VR education The experimental group will participate in a dementia educational program combining VR lasting approximately 2-3 hours.The virtual reality educational modules predominantly offer first-person narratives that delineate various symptoms associated with dementia.	Other: The virtual reality educational modules; The experimental group will participate in a dementia education program combining VR lasting approximately 2-3 hours. The virtual reality educational modules predominantly offer first-person narratives that delineate various symptoms associated with dementia.
No Intervention: Traditional dementia education (lecture) The control group will receive traditional education on dementia which is primarily taught by instructors.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

1. Empathy, measured by Jefferson Scale of Empathy [Immediate post-test]

   Empathy is one of the major outcomes which we expect to be improved after the VR education program on dementia

2. Change in Empathy, measured by Jefferson Scale of Empathy at 1 month [1 month follow-up]

   Empathy is one of the major outcomes which we expect to be improved after the VR education program on dementia

3. Attitude, measured by Approach to Dementia Questionnaire [Immediate post-test]

   Approach is one of the major outcomes which we expect to be improved after the VR education program on dementia

4. Change in Attitude, measured by Approach to Dementia Questionnaire at 1 month [1 month follow-up]

   Approach is one of the major outcomes which we expect to be improved after the VR education program on dementia

Secondary Outcome Measures

1. Change in Caregivers' burden, measuredn by Zarit Burden Interview [1 month follow-up]

   We also expect that caregivers' burden would be reduced after the VR education program on dementia

2. Caregivers' mental health status, measured by Brief Symptom Rating Scale [1 month follow-up]

   We also expect that caregivers' mental health status would be improved after the VR education program on dementia

3. User experience interview of the VR education program on dementia [Immediate after the program]

   We would also collect user experience data from participants after te VR education program on dementia

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 Years to 100 Years
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Over 20 years;

2. Speak Chinese;

3. Take care of people with dementia currently.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Those who are unable to use VR devices due to certain physical or mental situations;

2. Those who have fear/disgust for VR devices;

3. Those who feel dizzy after using VR devices;

4. The individual with dementia is currently residing in a care facility.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

No locations specified.

Sponsors and Collaborators

• Taipei Medical University

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Dorothy Bai, PhD, Taipei Medical University

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.

• Responsible Party: Taipei Medical University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06072274
• Other Study ID Numbers: N202308052
• First Posted: Oct 10, 2023
• Last Update Posted: Oct 10, 2023
• Last Verified: Sep 1, 2023

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
• Additional relevant MeSH terms: Dementia; Caregiver Burden

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Oct 10, 2023