Virtual Reality for Firearm Safety Counseling

(REACH_CCTST Trial)

Overseen By Francis Real, MD, MEd

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, Others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a virtual reality program can help pediatric residents improve their documentation and counseling on safe firearm storage. Participants will either complete a comprehensive virtual reality course or a shorter online training. The trial will compare these methods to identify the more effective one. Residents working at specific clinics in Kentucky and Cincinnati who can read and speak English are eligible to participate. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative educational methods that could enhance pediatric 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 curriculum is safe for pediatric residents?

Research has shown that virtual reality training for firearm safety, such as the REACH Firearm Safety program, is generally well-received by participants. One study found that using virtual reality to teach pediatric residents about firearm safety is both feasible and well-received, indicating that the training is user-friendly and comfortable for participants.

Although specific negative effects from this training are not well-documented, the absence of reported issues in studies suggests it is safe. Virtual reality programs typically do not involve physical contact with the body, reducing the risk of harmful side effects compared to direct medical treatments.

In summary, current evidence supports that the REACH Firearm Safety virtual reality training is safe and well-tolerated by participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores the use of virtual reality (VR) as a novel tool for firearm safety counseling. Unlike traditional methods that might rely heavily on lectures or written materials, this approach uses immersive VR experiences to engage participants more effectively. The trial combines the American Academy of Pediatrics' Safer curriculum with the REACH program, where residents receive personalized guidance with a trained facilitator. This innovative blend of technology and personal interaction aims to enhance learning and retention, potentially leading to better safety outcomes in households with firearms.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving firearm safety counseling?

Research has shown that a training program led by residents can enhance their knowledge about firearm safety and increase the frequency of discussions with patients about safe gun storage. One study found that a short training session for primary care doctors led to more discussions about firearm safety three months later. Another study discovered that workshops on firearm safety helped pediatric residents feel more knowledgeable and confident, positively influencing their work. In this trial, participants will join different arms: the Modified AAP Safer curriculum or the REACH Firearm Safety program. These findings suggest that the REACH Firearm Safety program could improve how often and how well doctors document and discuss firearm safety in medical settings. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for pediatric residents with a clinic at specific locations in Kentucky and Cincinnati. It's designed to see if a virtual reality program can improve how they talk to patients about keeping guns safely stored.

Inclusion Criteria

You are a resident with an established practice at either Kentucky Clinic South, Family Care Center Pediatric Clinics, UK Internal Medicine and Pediatrics group, CCHMC Hopple Street Neighborhood Health Center, or UC Hoxworth Medicine-Pediatrics Clinic.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Participants engage in a virtual reality curriculum (REACH Firearm Safety) and a modified online self-guided AAP Safer curriculum

6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for documentation of counseling on firearm injury prevention and access to firearms

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Modified American Academy of Pediatrics Safer
• Resident Education And Counseling on Household Firearm Safety

Trial Overview The study tests the 'REACH Firearm Safety' virtual reality curriculum against an abbreviated online training, measuring its impact on residents' ability to screen and counsel families on firearm safety in medical records.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Resident Education And Counseling on Household (REACH) Firearm Safety Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Resident participants will complete a modified online self-guided American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Safer curriculum. Next, residents will complete REACH individually with a trained facilitator.

Group II: Modified AAP Safer Active Control 1 Intervention

Resident participants will complete a modified online self-guided American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Safer curriculum.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Lead Sponsor

Trials

844

Recruited

6,566,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11641887/

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Virtual Reality Curriculum ... Thus, we sought to report feasibility and acceptability outcomes related to Resident Education And Counseling on Household (REACH) Firearm ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022347623005437

A Resident-Led Firearm Curriculum for Pediatrics ... A resident-led firearm safety curriculum led to short-term improvements in resident knowledge and increased safe firearm storage counseling in clinical practice ...

3. surgjournal.com surgjournal.com/article/S0039-6060(25)00506-9/fulltext

Attitudes and practices surrounding primary care firearm ... A brief educational session for primary care providers improved the 3-month post education rate of firearm safety counseling at primary care ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7594770/

Addressing Firearm Safety Counseling: Integration of a ... We assessed the impact of a firearm safety counseling workshop on pediatric resident knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-reported practice patterns.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891524525003104

The Impact of Firearm Safety Training on Pediatric ... This integrative review provides important information about the impact of firearm safety training programs on pediatric healthcare providers' ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876285920303569

91. RESIDENTS EDUCATION ON FIREARMS SAFETY ... FA safety counseling has positive impact on increasing gun safety at home. It is crucial for Residents in training (RES) to learn skills of counseling with ...

7. academicpedsjnl.net academicpedsjnl.net/article/S1876-2859(24)00323-1/abstract

A Randomized Trial of Virtual Reality Training to Improve ... To evaluate the efficacy of Resident Education And Counseling on Household (REACH) Firearm Safety, a novel virtual reality (VR) intervention.