Virtual Reality Infection Control Training for Healthcare Workers During the Hajj Season ((VIRTIC-Hajj))

University of Bisha

Status: Not yet enrolling

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

Treatments: Device: Virtual Reality Infection Control Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07111910

Ubisha-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

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?

Full 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.

Enrollment: 200 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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200 participants in 2 patient groups

VR infection control training

Experimental group

Description:

Delivered via a headset-based immersive environment designed specifically for Hajj mass gathering scenarios. Training duration is 30-40 minutes and includes interactive modules and performance-based feedback.

Treatment:

Device: Virtual Reality Infection Control Training

Traditional Training Arm

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this arm will attend a standard infection control lecture, presented in PowerPoint format by an infection control expert. Content mirrors the topics covered in the VR module but is delivered passively.