Video game training for ER doctors to improve trauma triage
Using video games to increase the implementation of clinical practice guidelines in trauma triage
This project uses specially designed video games to help emergency doctors better spot severely injured older adults and send them to trauma centers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249132 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team will enroll emergency physicians across the U.S. and randomly assign half to play customized video games that retrain quick decision-making about injuries in people aged 65 and older. The games were built to recalibrate physicians' pattern-recognition so their choices match clinical triage guidelines, and they showed promise in lab tests. Researchers will track how doctors in each group manage injured older patients, including transfers to trauma centers and related outcomes. The trial aims to lower the high rate of under-triage for older adults and improve recovery and independence after injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The trial actually enrolls emergency physicians who care for injured adults—particularly those who often treat patients age 65 and older—rather than enrolling patients directly.
Not a fit: Patients who are not treated in participating emergency departments or whose care is governed entirely by automatic protocols rather than physician decision-making are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could decrease under-triage of older adults, lowering deaths and preserving independence after serious injury.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory studies showed these theory-based video games improved physician decision-making, but this large randomized trial is among the first to test effects on real-world triage and patient outcomes.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohan, Deepika — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Mohan, Deepika
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.