Mejorar la empatía Hacia el Mayor Mediante la simulación de la Vejez
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 82
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Change in total score on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions version (JSPE-HPS)
研究概览
简要总结
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.
详细描述
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.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Other
- 盲法
- None
盲法说明
Due to the nature of the educational intervention, neither participants nor investigators were blinded to group assignment
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 65 Years（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •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.
排除标准
- •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.
结局指标
主要结局
Change in total score on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions version (JSPE-HPS)
时间窗: Pre-intervention (baseline) and immediately post-intervention (same day)
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.
Change in total score on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions version (JSPE-HPS)
时间窗: Pre-intervention (baseline) and immediately post-intervention (same day)
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.
次要结局
- Change in Perspective Taking subscale of the JSPE-HPS(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in Compassionate Care subscale of the JSPE-HPS(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in Standing in the Patient's Shoes subscale of the JSPE-HPS(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in total score on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in IRI subscale scores (Perspective Taking, Fantasy, Empathic Concern, Personal Distress)(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in Perspective Taking subscale of the JSPE-HPS(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in Compassionate Care subscale of the JSPE-HPS(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in Standing in the Patient's Shoes subscale of the JSPE-HPS(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in total score on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
- Change in IRI subscale scores (Perspective Taking, Fantasy, Empathic Concern, Personal Distress)(Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (same day))
研究者
Sergio Serrada Tejeda
PhD
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos