Animated character that explains medical illustrations
Official title: Advancing Medical Illustration in Patient Education Materials: From Art to Science. Study 2: ECA-enhanced Document Explanation RCT
Run by Northeastern University · NCT06435819 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Northeastern University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 5, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 3, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06435819 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Timothy Bickmore, PhD — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Timothy Bickmore, PhD
- Email: t.bickmore@northeastern.edu
- Phone: 6173735477
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.