Clinical Research Directory

Virtual Reality: a Teaching-learning Strategy for Cognitive Mastery in Airway Trauma Management

Airway injury in patients is a high risk and complex medical crisis. Unfortunately, training for airway management in injured patients is challenging. The most effective way of practicing airway management is using mannequins. However, mannequin training is expensive and only occasionally available to medical trainees. The purpose of this study is to determine if Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to educate medical students on airway injury management. VR training will involve managing the care of a patient with an airway injury in an immersive, interactive VR hospital trauma bay. The investigators will compare the knowledge gained from VR training vs. mannequin training. The investigators will also investigate whether VR training teaches students faster than mannequin training. In addition, the investigators will identify factors which might affect learning from VR. Medical students who choose to participate will be randomized (i.e. participant will have a 50% chance to be placed in either group) to be trained with VR or a mannequin. Participants then will be trained on airway injury management using their assigned training approach. One week later, all participants will be assessed on their airway injury management skills using a mannequin. Before and after their sessions, participants will also be asked to complete a questionnaire on their clinical decision-making. Participants who received VR training will also complete a questionnaire about their experience with the VR training. This study will help develop a new approach to airway management training which is cheaper and more easily available to medical trainees than mannequin training. This educational tool could lead to better treatment of airway trauma in future patients.

Effect of a Sleep Hygiene-based Intervention on Sleep Quality and Mental Health in Medical Students

The aim of the study is to investigate whether an online sleep hygiene programm is as effective as a face-to-face programm in improving sleep quality and mental health in medical students.

Wellness of Osteopathic Medical Students Throughout Their Training (Well-COM)

The Well-COM Research Project addresses a critical gap in our understanding of the holistic health of medical students, over the entirety of the medical school experience. While the rigorous demands of medical education and its effects on the well-being of medical students are well-documented, there is a lack of long-term study assessing the mental, physical, and metabolic health of medical students from entry into medical school through their training and into residency. By collecting holistic health data from new first-year medical students, and over a minimum period of 10 years, the Well-COM project aims to provide invaluable insights into the changes in health and wellness experienced by medical students, thereby informing future interventions and support systems to promote overall health and resilience in medical school students.