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AgingNCT07280689

Effects of an Aging Simulation Suit on Clinical Empathy in Healthcare Professionals Working in Long-Term Care

A study testing Experimental: Aging Simulation Suit + Educational Session in people with Aging and Empathy Skills, run by Universidad Rey Juan Carlos at 1 site in Spain.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of using an aging simulation suit on empathy levels among healthcare professionals working in long-term care facilities. A total of 82 participants from four nursing homes in Madrid and Asturias were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Aging, Empathy Skills
What is being tested?
Experimental: Aging Simulation Suit + Educational Session
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
82 participants
Where
1 siteSpain
Study dates
30 Jan 2024to 30 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 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Healthcare professional (nurse, nursing assistant, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, physician, psychologist, or social worker).
  • Currently working in a long-term care or nursing home facility with direct contact with residents.
  • Willing to participate voluntarily during working hours.
  • Signed written informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Failure to provide written informed consent.
  • No direct patient contact with older adults.
  • Any physical or cognitive limitation that would prevent safe participation in the aging simulation experience.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Spain1 site
  • Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

    Alcorcón, Madrid, 28922

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Official title: Mejorar la empatía Hacia el Mayor Mediante la simulación de la Vejez

This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of using an aging simulation suit on empathy levels among healthcare professionals working in long-term care facilities. A total of 82 participants from four nursing homes in Madrid and Asturias were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group received a theoretical session on aging and empathy, followed by an immersive experience using the GERT aging simulation suit, which replicates age-related physical and sensory limitations. The control group attended only the theoretical session.

Empathy was assessed before and after the intervention using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions version (JSPE-HPS). Results showed significant improvements in the JSPE-HPS total score and in its Perspective Taking and Compassionate Care dimensions in the experimental group, indicating that the immersive experience enhanced both cognitive and affective components of clinical empathy. No significant changes were observed in the IRI scores.

These findings suggest that experiential learning through aging simulation can effectively strengthen empathy in active healthcare professionals, promoting more person-centered and compassionate care for older adults in long-term care settings.

Read the detailed description

Aging is accompanied by physiological, structural, and psychosocial changes that affect mobility, sensory functions, and interaction with the environment. Healthcare professionals working in long-term care facilities play a crucial role in supporting the physical, emotional, and social well-being of older adults. Empathy, understood as the ability to understand and share another person's feelings, is a key component of effective therapeutic relationships and person-centered care.

Traditional empathy training for healthcare providers often relies on lectures, role-playing, or observation of patient interactions. However, there is limited evidence regarding the impact of immersive simulation-based methods on empathy among active healthcare professionals. The use of aging simulation suits, which reproduce the physical and sensory limitations of older adults, has emerged as an innovative educational tool to promote understanding of the aging experience and improve empathic attitudes toward older persons.

This randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effect of an aging simulation suit (GERT, Niederstotzingen, Germany) on levels of clinical empathy among healthcare professionals working in long-term care facilities. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Experimental Group: Received a theoretical educational session on aging, functional limitations, and the role of empathy in care, followed by a practical session using the aging simulation suit. During the simulation, participants performed daily living tasks (e.g., walking, climbing stairs, dressing, interacting with others) while experiencing the physical restrictions associated with advanced age.

Control Group: Received only the theoretical session on aging and empathy without the immersive simulation experience.

Empathy was assessed pre- and post-intervention using two validated instruments:

Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) - measures cognitive and emotional dimensions of general empathy.

Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions version (JSPE-HPS) - evaluates empathy specifically in clinical contexts.

Data analysis was conducted using repeated-measures ANOVA to assess within- and between-group differences over time.

Main findings: The experimental group showed significant increases in total JSPE-HPS scores and in the subscales Perspective Taking and Compassionate Care, whereas the control group showed no significant changes. No significant differences were observed in IRI scores. These results indicate that immersive experiential learning through the use of an aging simulation suit can enhance both cognitive and affective aspects of empathy in healthcare professionals.

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines.

This research supports the integration of simulation-based empathy training in continuing professional education for healthcare workers in long-term care, promoting more compassionate, person-centered care for the aging population.

Being tested
Experimental: Aging Simulation Suit + Educational Session, Control: Educational Session Only
Keywords
Clinical empathy, GERT suit, randomized controlled trial, Healthcare professionals, Aging simulation suit

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Experimental: Aging Simulation Suit + Educational SessionBehavioural

    Immersive training session using the GERT aging simulation suit (Niederstotzingen, Germany), designed to reproduce age-related physical and sensory limitations. Participants performed common daily activities (e.g., walking, climbing stairs, dressing, interacting with others) while wearing the suit to experience the physical challenges of aging. This activity was followed by a short debriefing and group reflection aimed at enhancing empathy and awareness toward older adults.

  • Control: Educational Session OnlyBehavioural

    A structured theoretical session covering topics such as aging processes, functional limitations, and the importance of empathy in healthcare and long-term care contexts. Delivered to all participants in both study arms, serving as the baseline educational component for the control and experimental groups.

Study groups in NCT07280689
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental: Aging Simulation Suit + Educational SessionExperimentalParticipants received a theoretical session on aging, functional limitations, and empathy in healthcare, followed by an immersive experience using the GERT aging simulation suit. The suit replicates the physical and sensory limitations of aging, allowing participants to perform everyday tasks while experiencing the challenges faced by older adults.
Receives: Behavioral: Experimental: Aging Simulation Suit + Educational Session; Behavioral: Control: Educational Session Only
Control: Educational Session OnlyActive comparatorParticipants received the same theoretical session on aging, functional limitations, and empathy in healthcare as the experimental group, but did not use the aging simulation suit.
Receives: Behavioral: Control: Educational Session Only

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in total score on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions version (JSPE-HPS)

    Mean difference in total Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy - Health Professional Student version (JSPE-HPS) score between baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention for each study group. The JSPE-HPS measures clinical empathy in healthcare professionals and consists of 20 items, with total scores ranging from 20 to 140; higher scores indicate higher empathy (better outcome). The primary analysis was performed using repeated-measures ANOVA to examine time effects and the group × time interaction.

    Measured: Pre-intervention (baseline) and immediately post-intervention (same day)

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Change in Perspective Taking subscale of the JSPE-HPS

    Mean pre/post difference in the Perspective Taking subscale of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy - Health Professional Student version (JSPE-HPS). The JSPE-HPS consists of 20 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale (total score range 20-140). The Perspective Taking subscale comprises 10 items, with subscale scores ranging from 10 to 70. This subscale assesses cognitive empathy, and higher scores indicate higher levels of empathy (better outcome). Differences were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, including the group × time interaction.

    Measured: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day)

  2. Change in Compassionate Care subscale of the JSPE-HPS

    Mean pre/post difference in the Compassionate Care subscale of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy - Health Professional Student version (JSPE-HPS). This subscale assesses affective aspects of clinical empathy, with higher scores indicating higher empathy (better outcome). Differences were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, including the group × time interaction.

    Measured: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day)

  3. Change in Standing in the Patient's Shoes subscale of the JSPE-HPS

    Mean pre/post difference in the Standing in the Patient's Shoes subscale of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy - Health Professional Student version (JSPE-HPS). This subscale assesses the ability to adopt the patient's perspective, with higher scores indicating higher empathy (better outcome). Differences were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, including the group × time interaction.

    Measured: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day)

  4. Change in total score on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)

    Mean difference in total Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) score between pre- and post-intervention. The IRI is a 28-item measure distributed across four subscales (Perspective Taking, Fantasy, Empathic Concern, and Personal Distress), with total scores ranging from 0 to 112. Higher total scores indicate greater empathic disposition. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA to evaluate time effects and the group × time interaction.

    Measured: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day)

  5. Change in IRI subscale scores (Perspective Taking, Fantasy, Empathic Concern, Personal Distress)

    Mean pre/post difference in each of the four Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) subscales (Perspective Taking, Fantasy, Empathic Concern, and Personal Distress), each consisting of 7 items with scores ranging from 0 to 28. For Perspective Taking, Fantasy, and Empathic Concern, higher scores indicate greater empathy (better outcome), whereas for Personal Distress, higher scores indicate greater self-oriented distress (worse outcome). Each subscale was analyzed separately using repeated-measures ANOVA to examine time effects and the group × time interaction.

    Measured: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Dec 2025
  2. Study start30 Jan 2024
  3. Primary completion30 Jul 2024
  4. Study completion30 Sep 2024

Resources

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
Model description
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: a control group that received a theoretical educational session on aging and empathy, and an experimental group that received the same session plus an immersive experience using an aging simulation suit.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
82 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07280689
Sponsor's protocol ID
2711201916919
Status last verified
Dec 2025
First submitted
1 Dec 2025
Last updated
19 Dec 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the dataset includes information from a small group of healthcare professionals that could potentially allow identification of participants. Only aggregated and anonymized summary results will be published in scientific journals and conference presentations.

Publications

  • Lee K, Han A, Kim TH. Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Empathy Enhancement Program for Caregivers (SEE-C) Evaluated by Older Adults Receiving Care. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 23;18(15):7802. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18157802.

    PubMed 34360095
  • Pira GL, Ruini C, Vescovelli F, Banos R, Ventura S. Could Empathy Be Taught? The Role of Advanced Technologies to Foster Empathy in Medical Students and Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review. J Med Syst. 2025 Jan 14;49(1):6. doi: 10.1007/s10916-025-02144-9.

    PubMed 39806022
  • Ebm C, Sarti R, Panico P, Pagliotta M, Vinci V, Oldani S. Enhancing compassion in medical education - a comparative study of the efficacy of clinical clerkships versus simulation-based training methodologies. BMC Med Educ. 2025 Feb 4;25(1):181. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-06687-w.

    PubMed 39905468
  • Halton C, Cartwright T. Walking in a Patient's Shoes: An Evaluation Study of Immersive Learning Using a Digital Training Intervention. Front Psychol. 2018 Nov 12;9:2124. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02124. eCollection 2018.

    PubMed 30483174
  • Serrada-Tejeda S, Obeso-Benitez P, Hernandez-Hernandez L, Martinez-Cuervo F, Perez-de-Heredia-Torres M, Sanchez-Herrera-Baeza P, Yusta-Ceacero A, Martinez-Piedrola RM. Effects of a brief aging simulation suit intervention on clinical empathy in healthcare professionals working in long-term care: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriatr. 2026 May 2;26(1):828. doi: 10.1186/s12877-026-07564-x.

    PubMed 42070049

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Experimental: Aging Simulation Suit + Educational Session in people with Aging and Empathy Skills, run by Universidad Rey Juan Carlos at 1 site in Spain.

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 4 inclusion and 3 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 19 Dec 2025. 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 Spain. 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?

Change in total score on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions version (JSPE-HPS) (time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline) and immediately post-intervention (same day)). 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 NCT07280689, which also lists 5 linked publications.

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 19 Dec 2025.

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