Dataset Information

Virtual Worlds Technology to Enhance Training for Primary Care Providers in Assessment and Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Motivational Interviewing: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) first present to primary care rather than specialty mental health care. Primary care providers often lack the training required to assess and treat patients with PTSD. Virtual trainings have emerged as a convenient and effective way of training primary care providers in PTSD assessment and communication methods (ie, motivational interviewing [MI]).

Objective

The aim of this study was to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial of a synchronous Virtual Worlds (VW; a virtual world where learners were immersed as avatars) training versus an asynchronous web-based training on PTSD and MI, comparing the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and preliminary efficacy of 2 different training platforms among primary care providers.

Methods

Participating primary care providers were randomized to a VW and a web-based PTSD training. Outcomes were collected at baseline, posttraining, and 90-days follow-up. Standardized patient interviews measured participants' communication skills in assessing and managing patients with PTSD symptoms.

Results

Compared to the web-based training, the VW training platform achieved larger learning gains in MI (ie, partnership and empathy) and in discussing pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for PTSD. Both VW and web-based trainings led to increases in PTSD knowledge and primary care providers' self-confidence.

Conclusions

The asynchronous web-based PTSD training improved PTSD-related knowledge and self-confidence but was not as effective as the VW immersive experience in teaching MI or clinical management. Because VW training is synchronous and new for many learners, it required more time, facilitation, and technical support. As computer technology improves, VW educational interventions may become more feasible, particularly in teaching clinical skills.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03898271; https://tinyurl.com/mu479es5.

SUBMITTER: Manuel JK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10495852 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Virtual Worlds Technology to Enhance Training for Primary Care Providers in Assessment and Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Motivational Interviewing: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Manuel Jennifer K JK Purcell Natalie N Abadjian Linda L Cardoos Stephanie S Yalch Matthew M Hill Coleen C McCarthy Brittan B Bertenthal Daniel D McGrath Sarah S Seal Karen K

JMIR medical education 20230828

<h4>Background</h4>Many individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) first present to primary care rather than specialty mental health care. Primary care providers often lack the training required to assess and treat patients with PTSD. Virtual trainings have emerged as a convenient and effective way of training primary care providers in PTSD assessment and communication methods (ie, motivational interviewing [MI]).<h4>Objective</h4>The aim of this study was to conduct a pilot randomize ...[more]

PMID: 37639299

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundMotivational interviewing (MI) is a framework for addressing behavior change that is often used by healthcare professionals. Expression of empathy during MI is associated with positive client outcomes, while absence of empathy may produce iatrogenic effects. Although training in MI is linked to increased therapeutic empathy in learners, no research has investigated individual training components' contribution to this increase. The objective of this study was to test whether a self-coding MI exercise using smartphones completed at hour 6 of an 8-h MI training was superior in engendering empathy to training as usual (watching an MI expert perform in a video clip for the same duration at the same point in the training).MethodsThis was a pilot study at two sites using randomization and control groups with 1:1 allocation. Allocation was achieved via computerized assignment (site 1, United Kingdom) or facedown playing card distribution (site 2, United States). Participants were 58 students attending a university class at one of two universities, of which an 8-h segment was dedicated to a standardized MI training. Fifty-five students consented to participate and were randomized. The intervention was an MI self-coding exercise using smartphone recording and a standardized scoring sheet. Students were encouraged to reflect on areas of potential improvement based on their self-coding results. The main outcome measure was score on the Helpful Responses Questionnaire, a measure of therapeutic empathy, collected prior to and immediately following the 8-h training. Questionnaire coding was completed by 2 blinded external reviewers and assessed for interrater reliability, and students were assigned averaged empathy scores from 6 to 30. Analyses were conducted via repeated-measures ANOVA using the general linear model.ResultsFifty-five students were randomized, and 2 were subsequently excluded from analysis at site 2 due to incomplete questionnaires. The study itself was feasible, and overall therapeutic empathy increased significantly and substantially among students. However, the intervention was not superior to the control condition in this study.ConclusionsReplacing a single passive learning exercise with an active learning exercise in an MI training did not result in a substantive boost to therapeutic empathy. However, consistently with prior research, this study identified significant overall increases in empathy following introductory MI training. A much larger study examining the impact of selected exercises and approaches would likely be useful and informative.

Dataset Information

Virtual Worlds Technology to Enhance Training for Primary Care Providers in Assessment and Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Motivational Interviewing: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

Publications

Virtual Worlds Technology to Enhance Training for Primary Care Providers in Assessment and Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Motivational Interviewing: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Similar Datasets

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