Virtual Reality Lethal Means Safety Training

Part of paid clinical trials in Arlington, Texas.

Sponsor
The University of Texas at Arlington
Study ID
NCT07219355
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Mental Health Training
  • Rural Health
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Suicide, Completed
  • Veterans

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Virtual Reality Lethal Means Safety Training — BEHAVIORAL
    An immersive behavioral training program delivered through a Meta Quest 3 virtual reality headset. Participants enter a simulated rural health clinic and interact with a Veteran avatar at risk for suicide. The simulation incorporates realistic dialogue and decision points where providers practice skills in suicide risk identification, lethal means safety counseling (firearm and medication storage), and collaborative safety planning. The VR format allows repeated practice in a safe environment and provides a more engaging and realistic training experience than traditional methods.
  • 2D Video Training — BEHAVIORAL
    A 10-minute video delivered through a VR headset that depicts a healthcare provider conducting lethal means safety counseling with a Veteran. This is a non-interactive training used as an active comparator.

Study Details

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine whether a virtual reality (VR) training program can help healthcare providers improve their skills in discussing suicide prevention and safe storage of firearms and medications with Veterans. The study will test whether VR training increases providers' self-efficacy, confidence, and comfort in conducting lethal means safety counseling, and whether it improves their intention to use these counseling practices in their clinical work. Researchers will compare healthcare providers who complete the VR training to those who complete a 2D video training to determine whether the VR approach is more effective. Participants will complete online surveys before and after the training and again three months later. They will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: VR training group: Participants use a VR headset to interact with a virtual Veteran patient in a simulated rural clinic and practice suicide prevention counseling skills; Video training group: Participants use the same headset to watch a \~10-minute 2D video depicting the lethal means safety counseling session. After the training, participants will also provide feedback about their experience, including how realistic and useful they found the training.

Key Dates

Start date
Feb 23, 2026
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
May 1, 2026
Completion
Sep 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
36 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER

Arms

  • Experimental: VR-LMST Intervention
    Participants use a Meta Quest 3 headset to complete an interactive virtual reality simulation of a rural clinic visit with a Veteran avatar at risk for suicide. The simulation incorporates skills in suicide risk identification, firearm and medication safety counseling, and collaborative safety planning.
  • Active Comparator: 2D Video Training
    Participants use a VR headset to view a 10-minute 2D video depicting a lethal means safety counseling session with a veteran.

Primary Outcome Measure

Confidence in Lethal Means Safety Counseling [ Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test), immediately after intervention (post-test), and 3-month follow-up ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonTexas76019
Donna L. Schuman, PhD, LCSW
[email protected]
8172723181
J. SuLynn Mester, DNP, RN
[email protected]
Micki Washburn, PhD, LMSW, LPC (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)
Benjamin Wagley, MFA (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)
Regina Praetorius, PhD, LMSW-ACP-S (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)

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