Psychophysiological Indicators of Performance in Computer-Based Simulation

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Other: Low Valence; Other: High Valence

• Registration Number: NCT01509794
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

As simulation is now used in many post-graduate education and assessment domains, the investigators want to learn about how autonomically engaged healthcare providers are with the investigators computer simulation paradigm. The investigators are interested in the relationship between autonomic arousal (as measured by heart rate variability and galvanic skin response), self-report of engagement, and performance in the simulation and cognitive debriefing.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-11
• Study First Submitted: 2012-01-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-01-12
• Study First Posted: 2012-01-13
• Status Verified: 2013-03
• Primary Completion: 2013-03
• Study Completion: 2013-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-03-27
• Last Update Posted: 2013-03-29

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 17

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthcare provider
• Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria

• Has a medical condition associated with cardiac arrhythmia
• Taking medications (such as antiarrhythmic or beta-blocker) that has an effect on heart rate or autonomic function

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Low Valence	Low Valence	Participants in the low valence condition will participate in photo-based simulations. They will see a photo of the patient and hear affectively flattened audio. The script and clinical information remain the same as the high valence condition.
High Valence	High Valence	Participants in the high valence condition will participate in video-based simulations. They will see a rich multimedia presentation of the clinical encounter, with affectively enhanced audio. The script and clinical information remain the same as the low valence condition.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Engagement with simulation	All data will be collected during the one hour when participants engage in the simulation activities and debriefing.	Participant engagement with simulation will be measured using physiological measures of heart rate variability and galvanic skin response as well as self-report measures during the verbal debriefing.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive performance	All data will be collected during the one hour when participants engage in the simulation activities and debriefing.	Cognitive performance will be assessed based on the choices that participants make during the clinical simulation as well as the details that they retain and express during the written debriefing.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital, Division of Postgraduate Medical Education; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States