Animated character that explains medical illustrations
Advancing Medical Illustration in Patient Education Materials: From Art to Science. Study 2: ECA-enhanced Document Explanation RCT
This study will test whether an animated virtual character helps adults understand medical pictures and feel less anxious than reading the pictures alone, and whether a virtual‑reality version works better than a 2D computer version.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Northeastern University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06435819 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will randomize English- or Spanish-speaking adults to one of three groups: reading a patient education document alone (control), using an embodied conversational agent (ECA) on a 2D computer display, or using the same ECA in immersive virtual reality. Participants will review documents with embedded medical illustrations and then complete measures of comprehension and anxiety. The primary comparison is whether the ECA-augmented conditions improve understanding and reduce anxiety compared with the static document, and whether the immersive VR ECA outperforms the 2D ECA. Enrollment occurs at Boston sites affiliated with Northeastern University, Tufts Medical Center, and Boston University.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults 18 or older who speak English or Spanish fluently, can give informed consent, and have adequate corrected vision to read documents.
Not a fit: People with uncorrectable severe visual impairment, those who cannot use VR due to motion sickness or other tolerance issues, or non‑English/Spanish speakers are unlikely to benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help people understand medical materials more quickly and feel less anxious when viewing medical illustrations.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has shown that embodied conversational agents can improve engagement and comprehension for health information, while evidence for added benefit from immersive VR over 2D is mixed and fewer randomized comparisons exist.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Over 18 years old * Speaks English or Spanish fluently * Is able to independently consent * Has adequate corrected vision to read patient education documents Exclusion Criteria: \* None
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations
- Tufts Medical Center — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Northeastern University — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Timothy Bickmore, PhD — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Timothy Bickmore, PhD
- Email: t.bickmore@northeastern.edu
- Phone: 6173735477
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.