Hospital program using virtual reality to prevent firearm violence in injured youth
Official title: A Hospital-based Intervention for Youth Injured Through Violence
Run by Virginia Commonwealth University · NCT07475247 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether a short virtual reality program called Elevate can help prevent firearm-related violence, reinjury, and hospital return among English-speaking teens aged 13–17 treated at VCU.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 13 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 360 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Virginia Commonwealth University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Richmond, Virginia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | October 2028 |
| Study ends | October 2028 |
| Registry record updated | July 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07475247 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are English-speaking adolescents aged 13–17 treated for violence-related injuries at Virginia Commonwealth University, with an adult caregiver aged 18 or older available to participate as required.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are non-English speakers, younger than 13 or older than 17, or whose caregivers are under 18 are excluded and would not receive this intervention through the project.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The program delivers a brief hospital-based intervention using the Elevate virtual reality (VR) platform to youth who present with violence-related injuries. Eligible participants are English-speaking adolescents aged 13–17 and their adult caregivers (18+), who complete the VR session during the hospital encounter and follow-up assessments. The study collects outcome data on subsequent violence exposure, reinjury, and healthcare use to determine if the VR approach reduces firearm-related harms. Interventions include the Elevate VR experience plus structured assessments at enrollment and specified follow-up times.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the VR intervention could lower future firearm-related injuries and deaths among participating youth and reduce related emergency care costs.
How similar studies have gone: Hospital-based brief violence interventions have demonstrated long-term benefits for reducing violence-related outcomes, but applying VR specifically to prevent firearm-related violence is a newer, less-tested approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Youth participant inclusion criteria: * Aged 13-17 years old * English speaking Youth participant exclusion criteria: * Youth aged \<13 years and \>17 years old * Non-English speaking * Youth of caregivers younger than 18 years old Adult/caregiver participant inclusion criteria: \- Aged 18 years or older Adult/caregiver participant exclusion criteria: \- Aged younger than 18 years
Where it's running
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nicholas Thomson — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Nicholas Thomson
- Email: nthomson2@vcu.edu
- Phone: 804-628-5541
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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.