Use of virtual reality to train dental professionals
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN67056051 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN67056051 |
| IRAS number | 253855 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | CPMS 40603, IRAS 253855 |
- Submission date
- 03/02/2020
- Registration date
- 17/02/2020
- Last edited
- 28/10/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Oral Health
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
In England, the population is ageing and people are retaining their teeth for longer. Dental professionals are increasingly treating patients with multiple illnesses. It is therefore important to improve dental professionals’ communication during dental visits in order to help increase older people’s compliance with preventive advice and routine dental attendance. Simulation technology could be an ideal way to train dental professionals’ on appropriate practice and communication to these groups of patients. Virtual reality (VR) has improved clinical practice but it has not been used to simulate dental care, which is a unique experience. The aim of this study is to test the use and acceptability of a virtual reality training tool which mimics the visual, physical and auditory experience of an older person with complex needs (some associated with age) visiting a dentist and receiving oral health advice.
Who can participate?
Training dental professionals from the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy, and qualified dental professionals
What does the study involve?
Participants complete a questionnaire to test their level of confidence in providing preventive care and instruction to increasingly frail dental patients who may have cognitive and age-related challenges. The simulation uses VR goggles and runs for 5 minutes. It is carried out at the University of Portsmouth or where the participants work (potentially two NHS practice sites). After the simulation a questionnaire is used to evaluate the professionals' confidence again and different aspects of the tool such as its usefulness and acceptability and ways it can be adapted or improved.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The benefits would be additional knowledge delivered by the training. Risks of the study are minimal. They include the inconvenience of participation. The questionnaires and simulation will be related to participants’ experiences of the VR simulation, this could lead to them feeling uncomfortable.
Where is the study run from?
1. William Beatty Building (UK)
2. Oxfordshire Priority Dental Service (UK)
3. Southampton NHS Treatment Centre (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2018 to April 2020
Who is funding the study?
1. Oral and Dental Research Trust (UK)
2. Solent NHS Trust (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Kristina Wanyonyi
k.wanyonyi@qmul.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Research Lead/Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health
Departmental Research Degrees Coordinator
NIHR CRN Wessex Oral and Dental Specialty Lead
University of Portsmouth Dental Academy
William Beatty Building
Hampshire Terrace
Portsmouth
PO1 2QG
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-2320-6805 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)23 9284 5746 |
| k.wanyonyi@qmul.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Non-randomised; Interventional; Design type: Prevention, Process of Care, Education or Self-Management |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Other |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | The use of virtual reality as a training tool to improve preventive dental practice for increasingly frail dental patients: a pilot study with dental professionals |
| Study hypothesis | In England, the population is ageing and people are retaining their teeth for longer (Steele et al., 2012). Dental professionals are increasingly treating patients with multiple comorbidities. It is therefore important to improve dental professionals’ communication during dental visits in order to help increase older people’s compliance with preventive advice and routine dental attendance (Borreani et al., 2008, British Dental Association, 2003). Simulation technology could be an ideal way to train dental professionals’ on appropriate practice and communication to these groups of patients. Virtual reality (VR) has improved clinical practice (McGaghie et al., 2010), however, it has not been used to simulate dental care, which is a unique experience. The aim of this study is to test the use and acceptability of a virtual reality training tool which mimics the visual, physical and auditory experience of an older person with complex needs (some associated with age) visiting a dentist and receiving oral health advice. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 18/01/2019, University of Portsmouth Science Faculty Ethics Committee (Science Faculty Office, University of Portsmouth, St Michael’s Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK; Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 3379; Email: ethics-sci@port.ac.uk), REC ref: 18/NS/0138 |
| Condition | Training dental professionals |
| Intervention | Study design: This is a before and after study involving the testing of a simulation training intervention with a baseline questionnaire and a follow-up questionnaire after the simulation. Simulation developmental: Researchers at the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Technology and Dental Academy will build and model the dental environment into a VR aperture. This will be built into a portable device which can be worn to experience the VR environment by training students. Study conduct: A cohort of UPDA students and qualified dental professionals (n= 50) who have consented to take part will experience three stages of the study. Stage a) Baseline questionnaire. This semi-structured questionnaire will test the level of confidence in providing preventive care and instructions to and increasingly frail patients who may have cognitive and age-related challenges. Stage b) Experimental/Simulation: The participants will experience the simulation environment using VR goggles. This will either be carried out in the Dental Academy or in selected where the participants work (NHS practice sites) Stage c) Post simulation questionnaire: After this simulation, participants will be given and will be asked to undertake the follow-up questionnaire which will evaluate their confidence again and aspects of the tool e.g its usefulness and acceptability, ways it can be adapted/improved and ascertain their confidence in delivering preventive advice to this target group. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Pharmaceutical study type(s) | |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | |
| Primary outcome measure | 1. Confidence levels in providing care to an increasingly frail patient measured using a questionnaire pre and post simulation (simulation is 5 min) 2. Views on acceptability and improvements of the tool measured using a questionnaire at the end of the study |
| Secondary outcome measures | There are no secondary outcome measures |
| Overall study start date | 01/04/2018 |
| Overall study end date | 30/04/2020 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Health professional |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned Sample Size: 50; UK Sample Size: 50 |
| Total final enrolment | 39 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | Dental professionals training at the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy and qualified dental professionals working in NHS community dental services settings who provide dental care to patients in the full age spectrum |
| Participant exclusion criteria | Dental professionals training at the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy and qualified dental professionals working in NHS community dental services settings who do not provide dental care to patients in the full age spectrum |
| Recruitment start date | 21/01/2019 |
| Recruitment end date | 01/08/2019 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centres
Portsmouth
PO1 2QG
United Kingdom
Granville Way
Bicester
OX26 4JT
United Kingdom
Level D R.s.h Hospital
Brintons Terrace
Southampton
SO14 0YG
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
c/o Denise Teasdale
James Watson Building
Portsmouth
PO1 2DD
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)2392846196 |
|---|---|
| denise.teasdale@port.ac.uk | |
| Website | http://www.port.ac.uk/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/03ykbk197 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
No information available
Government organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
- Alternative name(s)
- Solent NHS
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 30/04/2021 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Other |
| Publication and dissemination plan | 1. Peer-reviewed scientific journals 2. Internal report 3. Publication on website |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract results | Presented at 2020 IADR/AADR/CADR meeting | 01/01/2020 | 28/10/2021 | No | No |
Editorial Notes
28/10/2021: An abstract link has been moved from the publication and dissemination plan to the trial outputs.
01/09/2021: The study contact has been updated.
01/07/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Abstract reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
03/02/2020: Trial's existence confirmed by the NIHR.
