Virtual Reality for Implicit Bias
(BWH-VR-1 Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial tests whether a virtual reality (VR) experience can help reduce implicit bias (unconscious prejudice) in resident physicians. Participants will watch VR videos of clinical encounters and take tests to measure bias before and after the experience. The trial aims to determine if the VR intervention effectively reduces bias and is acceptable to participants. Resident physicians at Brigham and Women's Hospital who choose to participate are well-suited for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could improve medical training and patient care.
Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What prior data suggests that this virtual reality intervention is safe for reducing implicit bias?
Research has shown that virtual reality (VR) is generally safe for users, with few reports of negative effects. One study examined how VR can help healthcare workers recognize and address bias. It found that VR provides a safe training method, allowing users to experience different situations without physical risk.
Another study investigated VR's impact on attitudes and motivation in safety training. It found that people generally handle VR well, with no major negative reactions reported. These findings suggest that VR can be a safe and effective tool for activities like reducing hidden biases, without causing harm to participants.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the use of virtual reality (VR) for addressing implicit bias because it offers a unique, immersive approach to training and awareness. Unlike traditional bias training, which often relies on lectures or workshops, VR allows individuals to engage in simulated clinical encounters, providing a firsthand experience that can help uncover and modify subconscious biases. This method could lead to more effective and engaging bias reduction techniques, potentially transforming how bias training is conducted across various fields.
What evidence suggests that this VR intervention is effective for reducing implicit bias?
Research has shown that virtual reality (VR) can help reduce hidden biases. In one study, participants who used a VR training program became better at recognizing their own biases and felt more confident in addressing them. Another study with medical students found that most considered VR useful for spotting bias, and many reported increased confidence in reporting it. Additionally, a trial program using VR on smartphones for Medicaid providers received positive feedback and suggested it could help reduce bias. This trial will compare two VR experiences: one group will experience Clinical Encounters VR Videos, while another group will view a Control Neutral VR Video. Overall, these findings suggest that VR experiences can help reduce hidden biases, making it a promising tool for training in healthcare settings.56789
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for resident physicians interested in examining how virtual reality (VR) might affect their unconscious biases, particularly weight-based bias. Participants will need to complete several Implicit Association Tests before and after the VR intervention.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants watch VR experiences of clinical encounters or a neutral education video using a VR headset
Follow-up
Participants complete Implicit Association Tests immediately, at one week, and one month after the intervention to assess implicit bias
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Virtual Reality
Trial Overview
The study tests if a VR experience with clinical encounters can reduce implicit bias scores among physicians. It compares the impact of watching weight-based VR scenarios against neutral educational content using a headset.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead Sponsor
Citations
Evaluation of a novel virtual reality training intervention to ...
Reach: 30 adults participated, mostly women (n = 21), 47% were physicians, and 8% had no prior implicit bias training. Eighteen participants ...
2.
vhil.stanford.edu
vhil.stanford.edu/publications/evaluation-novel-virtual-reality-training-intervention-address-implicit-bias-amongEvaluation of a novel virtual reality training intervention to ...
Results. Reach: 30 adults participated, mostly women (n = 21), 47% were physicians, and 8% had no prior implicit bias training. Eighteen ...
Smartphone-Based Virtual and Augmented Reality Implicit ...
This study developed an innovative smartphone-based implicit bias training program for Medicaid providers and conducted a pilot evaluation on the user ...
The Use of Virtual Reality For Student Training on Bias And ...
The results showed that the majority of students found the VR module helpful in identifying bias and MA (n=47; 97.92%), enhancing their confidence to report ...
Virtual Reality to Combat Weight-Based Implicit Bias: BWH ...
Virtually Being Einstein Results in an Improvement in Cognitive Task Performance and a Decrease in Age Bias. Front Psychol. 2018 Jun 11;9:917. doi: 10.3389 ...
Smartphone-Based Virtual and Augmented Reality Implicit ...
This study developed an innovative smartphone-based implicit bias training program for Medicaid providers and conducted a pilot evaluation on the user ...
Effects of witnessing accidents in virtual reality on reception ...
The results show that witnessing a VR-based accident increases people's attitude toward construction safety and motivation to learn about construction safety.
Using virtual reality to investigate bias and discrimination in ...
VR exposes practitioners to diverse, intersectional patient scenarios safely, helping build awareness of bias and supporting equitable clinical ...
impact of virtual reality on implicit racial bias and mock legal ...
This article examines the influence of a short virtual reality paradigm on implicit racial biases and evaluations of legal scenarios.
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