Psychiatric ProblemNCT06706011
Virtual Patients - An Interactive Educational Module for Higher Education
A study testing Virtual Patient in people with Psychiatric Problem and Psychiatric Issue, run by Karolinska Institutet at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
Popular Science Summary (for the whole project) In modern healthcare, several challenges exist: short patient visits, highly specialized care, and limited opportunities for education and professional development among healthcare staff. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 100 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Psychiatric Problem, Psychiatric Issue, Violence
- What is being tested?
- Virtual Patient
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 56 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- 26 Aug 2024to 10 Sep 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 100 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Students in Nursing Program
Who cannot join
- None, except if the student does not want to participate
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Swedish Title: Virtuella Patienter - en Interaktiv Utbildningsmodul Inom Universitet Och högskola. In English: Virtual Patients - An Interactive Educational Module in Universities and Colleges.
Popular Science Summary (for the whole project)
In modern healthcare, several challenges exist: short patient visits, highly specialized care, and limited opportunities for education and professional development among healthcare staff. In theoretical training efforts, it can be difficult to highlight and provide opportunities to practice complex patient interactions. The overall goal of this project is to evaluate the effects of an interactive educational module that includes training with virtual patients (VP). Single training sessions rarely lead to behavioral changes in clinical practice, but concrete training with a clear connection to clinical tasks can have a better effect.
Read more
In this research project, VPs will be part of an educational module at universities and colleges, where the overarching goal is for students to practice clinically relevant communication areas. Two main areas have been selected for the VP in this project: intimate partner violence and suicide risk assessment. Both of these areas are of great significance to public health and have direct relevance to clinical care, especially in psychiatry. Specific objectives of the project include exploring the user experience of the VP, examining whether the VP contributes to increased knowledge and confidence in asking questions within the chosen focus area, studying students' experiences of using the VP, how it has influenced their work with patients after graduation, and finally, examining user patterns on the VP platform.
Previous research suggests that virtual patient cases can have positive effects on learning and engagement and may even be more effective than traditional education in improving clinical decision-making and critical thinking skills. VPs have been studied in various medical specialties, but there is a lack of knowledge specifically in psychiatry. In this project, researchers will evaluate the use of VPs in psychiatric training within medical, nursing, and psychology programs.
Read the detailed description
Overall purpose (for the whole project):
To investigate virtual patient cases (VP) as an interactive educational module for students in universities and colleges. The educational module will consist of three parts: a theoretical and preparatory lecture, training with VP, and a follow-up seminar. The aim is to evaluate how well this module prepares students to ask clinically relevant questions in focus areas such as intimate partner violence and suicide risk assessment. The target group for the project is students in nursing, medical, and psychology programs at various universities and colleges in Sweden.
Specific aims for this study:
To investigate whether VP contributes to an increased level of knowledge and confidence in asking questions within the selected focus areas among students in nursing, medical, and psychology programs.
Focus areas for VP:
Intimate partner violence
- Conditions
- Psychiatric Problem, Psychiatric Issue, Violence
- Being tested
- Virtual Patient
- Keywords
- virtual patient, education
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Virtual PatientOther
Interactive Educational Activity
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | Virtuel Patient Receives: Other: Virtual Patient |
| Control | No intervention | No Virtuel Patient |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
General Self-Efficacy Scale
This scale is a self-report measure of self-efficacy. Likert scale 1-4: 1=Not at all true, 2=Hardly true, 3=Moderately true, 4=Exactly true.
Measured: Up to two months
General Self-Efficacy - Visual Analog Scale
Measuring self-efficacy. Scale 1-10: 1=Low, 10=High.
Measured: Up to two months
Level of Knowledge - Test
Measuring level of knowledge. 15 multiple-choice question about inpartner violence.
Measured: Up to two months
Level of Knowledge - Visual Analog Scale
Measuring level of knowledge, Scale 1-10: 1=Low, 10=High.
Measured: Up to two months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Nov 2024
- Study start26 Aug 2024
- Primary completion9 Sep 2024
- Study completion10 Sep 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Psychiatric ProblemStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Karolinska InstitutetThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 56 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Karolinska Institutet
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Karolina Sörman, Karolinska Institutet
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06706011
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-06687-01
- Other IDs
- 2023
- Status last verified
- Nov 2024
- First submitted
- 28 Oct 2024
- Last updated
- 26 Nov 2024
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Sorman K, El Alaoui S, Martensson S, Larsson M, Knez R, Ljudvag M, Mac R, Dahlstrom K, Nowak YE, Fors U, Eckerstrom J. Virtual patient simulation strengthens confidence in clinical conversations among undergraduated nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med Educ. 2025 Dec 8;25(1):1690. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-08413-y.
PubMed 41361434
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Nov 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Swedish Title: Virtuella Patienter - en Interaktiv Utbildningsmodul Inom Universitet Och högskola. In English: Virtual Patients - An Interactive Educational Module in Universities and Colleges.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06706011
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2023-06687-01
- Conditions
- Psychiatric Problem, Psychiatric Issue, Violence
- Keywords
- virtual patient, education
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 56 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Karolinska InstitutetUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 26 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 9 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Sep 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Popular Science Summary (for the whole project)
In modern healthcare, several challenges exist: short patient visits, highly specialized care, and limited opportunities for education and professional development among healthcare staff. In theoretical training efforts, it can be difficult to highlight and provide opportunities to practice complex patient interactions. The overall goal of this project is to evaluate the effects of an interactive educational module that includes training with virtual patients (VP). Single training sessions rarely lead to behavioral changes in clinical practice, but concrete training with a clear connection to clinical tasks can have a better effect.
In this research project, VPs will be part of an educational module at universities and colleges, where the overarching goal is for students to practice clinically relevant communication areas. Two main areas have been selected for the VP in this project: intimate partner violence and suicide risk assessment. Both of these areas are of great significance to public health and have direct relevance to clinical care, especially in psychiatry. Specific objectives of the project include exploring the user experience of the VP, examining whether the VP contributes to increased knowledge and confidence in asking questions within the chosen focus area, studying students' experiences of using the VP, how it has influenced their work with patients after graduation, and finally, examining user patterns on the VP platform.
Previous research suggests that virtual patient cases can have positive effects on learning and engagement and may even be more effective than traditional education in improving clinical decision-making and critical thinking skills. VPs have been studied in various medical specialties, but there is a lack of knowledge specifically in psychiatry. In this project, researchers will evaluate the use of VPs in psychiatric training within medical, nursing, and psychology programs.
Detailed description
Overall purpose (for the whole project):
To investigate virtual patient cases (VP) as an interactive educational module for students in universities and colleges. The educational module will consist of three parts: a theoretical and preparatory lecture, training with VP, and a follow-up seminar. The aim is to evaluate how well this module prepares students to ask clinically relevant questions in focus areas such as intimate partner violence and suicide risk assessment. The target group for the project is students in nursing, medical, and psychology programs at various universities and colleges in Sweden.
Specific aims for this study:
To investigate whether VP contributes to an increased level of knowledge and confidence in asking questions within the selected focus areas among students in nursing, medical, and psychology programs.
Focus areas for VP:
Intimate partner violence
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | Other: Virtual PatientVirtuel Patient |
| Control | No intervention | –No Virtuel Patient |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Students in Nursing Program
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None, except if the student does not want to participate
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual PatientInteractive Educational Activity | Other | Intervention |
Primary outcome
General Self-Efficacy Scale
Time frame: Up to two months
This scale is a self-report measure of self-efficacy. Likert scale 1-4: 1=Not at all true, 2=Hardly true, 3=Moderately true, 4=Exactly true.
General Self-Efficacy - Visual Analog Scale
Time frame: Up to two months
Measuring self-efficacy. Scale 1-10: 1=Low, 10=High.
Level of Knowledge - Test
Time frame: Up to two months
Measuring level of knowledge. 15 multiple-choice question about inpartner violence.
Level of Knowledge - Visual Analog Scale
Time frame: Up to two months
Measuring level of knowledge, Scale 1-10: 1=Low, 10=High.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Nov 2024.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41361434Sorman K, El Alaoui S, Martensson S, Larsson M, Knez R, Ljudvag M, Mac R, Dahlstrom K, Nowak YE, Fors U, Eckerstrom J. Virtual patient simulation strengthens confidence in clinical conversations among undergraduated nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med Educ. 2025 Dec 8;25(1):1690. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-08413-y.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Psychiatric Problem
Not yet recruiting
Virtual Reality to Advance Dementia Care and Quality of Life
Dementia, Agitation
Recruiting
Virtual Reality Intervention to Improve Psychological Symptom Burden for Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment
Adjustment Disorder, Anxiety Disorder
Not yet recruiting
A Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation and Cost-Utility Evaluation of a Support Programme for Informal Carers of People With Dementia in Primary Care (EsCuidar2)
Quality of Life
Active, not recruitingObservational study
Gulf Long-Term Follow-Up Study
Cardiovascular Disease, Hematologic Diseases
Not yet recruiting
Supporting Health and Empowerment Through Contingency Management and Affect Regulation
HIV Risk
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Virtual Patient in people with Psychiatric Problem and Psychiatric Issue, run by Karolinska Institutet at 1 site in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Nov 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
General Self-Efficacy Scale (time frame: Up to two months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06706011, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Nov 2024.