VR headset vs. dummy: which trains future doctors better for ECT?
NCT ID NCT07350278
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study compares virtual reality (VR) simulation to traditional mannequin-based training for teaching medical students how to perform electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). 78 medical students with no prior ECT training will be randomly assigned to practice with either a VR simulator or a mannequin. The goal is to see if VR training is as effective as the standard method for building ECT skills.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Virtual reality simulation
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that VR is a practical and effective tool for training medical students in ECT, potentially reducing costs and increasing access to training.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage educational study (78 participants) that only measures skill acquisition in a controlled setting, not real patient outcomes. The VR training may not translate to better real-world performance.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
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