Psychophysiological Indicators of Performance in Computer-Based Simulation

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: High Valence; Other: Low Valence

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01509794

2011-P-000906

Details and patient eligibility

About

As simulation is now used in many post-graduate education and assessment domains, the investigators want to learn about how autonomically engaged healthcare providers are with the investigators computer simulation paradigm. The investigators are interested in the relationship between autonomic arousal (as measured by heart rate variability and galvanic skin response), self-report of engagement, and performance in the simulation and cognitive debriefing.

Enrollment: 17 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthcare provider
• Right-handed

Exclusion criteria

• Has a medical condition associated with cardiac arrhythmia
• Taking medications (such as antiarrhythmic or beta-blocker) that has an effect on heart rate or autonomic function

Trial design

17 participants in 2 patient groups

Low Valence

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the low valence condition will participate in photo-based simulations. They will see a photo of the patient and hear affectively flattened audio. The script and clinical information remain the same as the high valence condition.

Treatment:

Other: Low Valence

High Valence

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the high valence condition will participate in video-based simulations. They will see a rich multimedia presentation of the clinical encounter, with affectively enhanced audio. The script and clinical information remain the same as the low valence condition.

Treatment:

Other: High Valence