Virtual Reality Intervention in Cancer Genetics

Withdrawn

• Conditions: Prevention Harmful Effects; Cancer
• Interventions: Behavioral: Questionnaires; Behavioral: Physiological Measurements; Behavioral: Virtual Reality Scene Viewing

• Registration Number: NCT01310829
• Lead Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate a virtual reality-based intervention for training health care providers who are not genetics specialists to effectively communicate with and counsel patients regarding cancer genetics.

Detailed Description

If you agree to take part in this study, you will complete questionnaires, have your physiological measurements recorded, and view virtual reality scenes.

Questionnaires:

You will fill out questionnaires before and after viewing the virtual reality scenes. Before viewing the virtual reality scenes, you will answer questions about your demographic, educational and professional background and about the likelihood of becoming engaged in a virtual environment. After viewing the virtual reality scenes, you will answer questions to evaluate the scenes. You also will be asked to provide additional comments about the virtual reality scenes during a brief interview. In total, these questionnaires should take about 30 minutes total to complete.

Physiological Measurements:

Your heart rate and the amount you sweat will be recorded during the virtual reality scene (described below) by applying small sensors to your skin.

After you have completed the first set of questionnaires, you will sit in a recliner and the sensors will be placed on your rib cage and hand. The sensors that measure heart rate will be placed in the following locations: your lower left rib cage, just under your right collar bone, and just under your left collar bone. The sensors that measure the amount you sweat will be placed on the palm of your hand.

The Virtual Reality Scenes:

You will sit in a recliner and be asked to put on a virtual reality helmet, which has goggles and noise-cancelling headphones. You will be told how to wear the helmet and use the hand-held controller.

You will first view a sample virtual reality scene to help orient you to the technology. The experience of virtual reality may involve multiple senses. For example, you may hear, smell, and feel sensations (such as mild vibrations) that are associated with the scenes you are viewing.

After you become comfortable using the technology, you will view a virtual reality scenario that depicts a typical session in cancer genetic counseling. The scenario will depict a virtual patient who is being seen for genetic counseling. You will be encouraged to speak to and interact with the virtual patient as you would with a real patient. The interaction with the virtual patient will be recorded. It is estimated that you will spend about 30 minutes in the genetic counseling scene with the virtual patient.

After the scene has ended, the equipment and sensors will be removed, and you will be asked to complete the second set of questionnaires and the brief interview.

It is expected that it will take up to 2 hours to complete all study procedures.

This is an investigational study.

Up to 21 people will take part in this study at M. D. Anderson.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-02
• Study First Submitted: 2011-03-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-03-08
• Study First Posted: 2011-03-09
• Status Verified: 2016-05
• Primary Completion: 2016-05
• Study Completion: 2016-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-05-24
• Last Update Posted: 2016-05-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: WITHDRAWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: Not specified

Inclusion Criteria

1. Genetic counselors: Board-eligible or board-certified genetic counselor
2. Genetic counseling students: Currently enrolled and in good standing in an accredited genetic counseling degree program
3. 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria

1. Non-English speaking

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Virtual Reality	Virtual Reality Scene Viewing	Board-eligible or board-certified genetic counselors and students evaluate a virtual reality-based intervention using questionnaires and physiological measurements.
Virtual Reality	Physiological Measurements	Board-eligible or board-certified genetic counselors and students evaluate a virtual reality-based intervention using questionnaires and physiological measurements.
Virtual Reality	Questionnaires	Board-eligible or board-certified genetic counselors and students evaluate a virtual reality-based intervention using questionnaires and physiological measurements.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Proof of concept for Virtual Reality (VR) Technology as Training Method About Hereditary cancer risk and genetic testing	2 hours	Proof of concept for VR application established if VR prototype successfully evokes a sense of presence and co-presence (measured by the PQ and CPQ questionnaires, respectively). Responses to the PQ and CPQ given on a 7-point scale, with higher scores indicating higher degrees of presence and co-presence where mean scores above 4 considered high degree of presence and co-presence.