Virtual Reality Infection Control Training for Healthcare Workers During the Hajj Season

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Infection Control Training; Clinical Competence; Virtual Reality; Health Personnel; Mass Gathering Medicine

• Registration Number: NCT07111910
• Lead Sponsor: University of Bisha

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) training on improving infection control preparedness among healthcare workers during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Does VR training improve healthcare workers' knowledge, confidence, and preparedness for infection control compared to traditional training?

Are there differences in outcomes between the VR training and traditional lecture-based education?

Detailed Description

This study explores the use of virtual reality (VR) technology to train healthcare practitioners in infection control during the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest annual gatherings in the world. Infection control is critical in such mass gatherings to prevent the spread of contagious diseases and ensure the safety of millions of attendees.

The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate how effective VR training is in improving healthcare workers' skills, readiness, and confidence in infection prevention and control measures. By immersing participants in realistic, interactive scenarios using VR, the training aims to better prepare them for the complex and fast-paced environment of Hajj healthcare services.

Through this research, we aim to demonstrate whether VR-based training can enhance clinical preparedness more effectively than traditional training methods. The ultimate goal is to support safer healthcare delivery during Hajj and potentially apply this innovative approach to other high-risk healthcare settings worldwide.

This study also considers cultural adaptation to ensure the VR training is relevant and meaningful for healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. The findings could have a significant impact on how infection control education is delivered, improving outcomes for both practitioners and patients.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-08
• Study First Submitted: 2025-08-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-08-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-08-01
• Study First Posted: 2025-08-08
• Last Update Posted: 2025-08-08
• Study Start: 2026-01-20
• Primary Completion: 2027-01-21
• Study Completion: 2027-04-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 20 and above
• Assigned to work in Hajj healthcare settings
• Licensed healthcare worker (nurse, physician, EMT, etc.)
• Able to provide informed consent
• Fluent in Arabic or English

Exclusion Criteria

• History of epilepsy or motion sickness triggered by VR
• Severe visual or cognitive impairments

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Infection Control Knowledge Score From Baseline to Post-Training	From enrollment to 1 week post-training	Participants will complete a validated multiple-choice infection control knowledge test. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge. A score improvement of ≥15% is considered clinically meaningful.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Self-Reported Preparedness and Confidence in Infection Control	From enrollment to 1 week post-training	Measured using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not confident; 5 = very confident). Participants with an increase of ≥1 point in average scores from baseline are considered to have improved.