Protocol Number: 09-HG-0009

Title:

Participant Reactions to Disease Risk Information

Number:

09-HG-0009

Summary:

This study is part of an effort to learn about interactions between doctors and patients. The study will use virtual reality technology to examine how patients and doctors interact when they discuss disease risks.

Men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 who have access to the Internet and were born and raised in the United States may be eligible for this study. Participants will be recruited from the Washington D.C. area.

Participants undergo the following procedures:

-Complete an online questionnaire about their health-related background, family health history, cancer risk perceptions, and demographic information (e.g., age, marital status, education, etc.).

-Participate in activities in a virtual reality environment in which they interact with a virtual doctor in a virtual clinical scenario. For this experiment, participants wear a head-mounted display that allows them to see the virtual world images.

-Fill out a second questionnaire after completing the virtual reality activities. This questionnaire includes information on the participants' virtual reality experience, the information provided in the experience, and questions about themselves and their background.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

- Self-reported ability to speak, read, and write in English.

- Having been born and raised in the U.S.

- Not having been diagnosed with any of the diseases used in the experiment.

- Being between 25 and 40 years of age.

- Having access to the Internet.

- Both men and women will be included in the study.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

- Individuals below the age of 25 because they might not yet have completed their education and those above the age of 40 because they might have less familiarity with interactive technologies than younger individuals.

- Because the study will utilize virtual reality technology, individuals who are particularly susceptible to motion sickness will be excluded.

- All individuals with epilepsy, low vision, hearing problems, and vestibular disorders (e.g., vertigo) will be excluded from the study for safety reasons.

- We will re-screen for safety exclusion criteria when participants arrive to participate in the in-person portion of the study.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Health Disparities

Risk Communication

Numeracy

Doctor-Patient Communication

Virtual Reality Technology

Recruitment Keyword(s):

Communication

Doctor-Patient Communication

Condition(s):

Cancer

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Intervention(s):

None

Supporting Site:

National Human Genome Research Institute

Contact(s):

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):

Loomis JM, Blascovich JJ, Beall AC. Immersive virtual environment technology as a basic research tool in psychology. Behav Res Methods Instrum Comput. 1999 Nov;31(4):557-64.

Bailenson JN, Blascovich J, Beall AC, Loomis JM. Interpersonal distance in immersive virtual environments. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2003 Jul;29(7):819-33.

Baron RM, Kenny DA. The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Dec;51(6):1173-82.

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department of Clinical Research Informatics, CC.

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