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
BackgroundMany 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 con...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2023-08-01
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| Series: | JMIR Medical Education |
| Online Access: | https://mededu.jmir.org/2023/1/e42862 |
| _version_ | 1797736024429821952 |
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| author | Jennifer K Manuel Natalie Purcell Linda Abadjian Stephanie Cardoos Matthew Yalch Coleen Hill Brittan McCarthy Daniel Bertenthal Sarah McGrath Karen Seal |
| author_facet | Jennifer K Manuel Natalie Purcell Linda Abadjian Stephanie Cardoos Matthew Yalch Coleen Hill Brittan McCarthy Daniel Bertenthal Sarah McGrath Karen Seal |
| author_sort | Jennifer K Manuel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundMany 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]).
ObjectiveThe 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.
MethodsParticipating 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.
ResultsCompared 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.
ConclusionsThe 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 RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03898271; https://tinyurl.com/mu479es5 |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:07:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba22f480cc5c4f7db1928648d987ed89 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2369-3762 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:07:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba22f480cc5c4f7db1928648d987ed892023-08-28T13:31:17ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Medical Education2369-37622023-08-019e4286210.2196/42862Virtual Worlds Technology to Enhance Training for Primary Care Providers in Assessment and Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Motivational Interviewing: Pilot Randomized Controlled TrialJennifer K Manuelhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7457-3408Natalie Purcellhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0582-9235Linda Abadjianhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2170-9823Stephanie Cardooshttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-5254-5197Matthew Yalchhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1965-0041Coleen Hillhttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-4962-6823Brittan McCarthyhttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-6126-9543Daniel Bertenthalhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8469-3259Sarah McGrathhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-7901-4040Karen Sealhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6676-9117 BackgroundMany 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]). ObjectiveThe 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. MethodsParticipating 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. ResultsCompared 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. ConclusionsThe 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 RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03898271; https://tinyurl.com/mu479es5https://mededu.jmir.org/2023/1/e42862 |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer K Manuel Natalie Purcell Linda Abadjian Stephanie Cardoos Matthew Yalch Coleen Hill Brittan McCarthy Daniel Bertenthal Sarah McGrath Karen Seal 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 JMIR Medical Education |
| title | 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 |
| title_full | 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 |
| title_fullStr | 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 |
| title_full_unstemmed | 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 |
| title_short | 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 |
| title_sort | 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 |
| url | https://mededu.jmir.org/2023/1/e42862 |
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