Using VR to Assess the Efficacy of a Motivational Interviewing Intervention to Increase Bystander Behaviors (VR)

Using Virtual Reality to Assess the Efficacy of a Motivational Interviewing Intervention to Increase Bystander Behaviors

With the present project, we will a evaluate a new, motivational interviewing (MI) intervention for increasing bystander behaviors to prevent sexual violence. In the intervention, motivational interviewing will be used to build each participant's unique motivation for engaging in bystander intervention behaviors. To assess the efficacy of the intervention, we will utilize the Bystanders in Sexual Assault Virtual Environments (B-SAVE), a virtual reality measure of bystander behaviors, along with self-report measures examining relevant bystander behaviors and attitudes. We will also examine key moderators of intervention efficacy to provide valuable knowledge (e.g., whom the intervention is most effective for) for further tailoring of the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sexual Assault
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Motivate-The-Bystander (MTB)

Detailed Description

This study will provide a comprehensive examination of Motivate-The-Bystander and provide information about whom the intervention is most effective for. Specifically, at T1, participants will be randomly assigned to the MTB condition, a motivational interviewing intervention designed to increase participants' bystander intervention behaviors, or an assessment only control condition. All participants will complete a battery of self-report measures, including our three proposed moderators (gender, alcohol use, and rape myth acceptance). Participants assigned to the MTB condition will also engage in a motivational interviewing intervention designed to build each participant's unique motivation for engaging in bystander intervention behaviors. Approximately two months later, at T2, participants will complete a battery of self-report measures assessing their bystander behaviors and attitudes over the past two months. Then, all participants will complete the B-SAVE, where they provide open ended verbal responses to a series of sexually risky and non-risky interactive scenes they witness in the virtual environment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 57
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nebraska
    • Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68588
      • University of Nebraska Lincoln

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 25 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18-25, English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non English speaking.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: FACTORIAL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Motivate-The-Bystander; Participants assigned to the MTB condition arm.	Behavioral: Motivate-The-Bystander (MTB); MTB is a motivational interviewing intervention designed to increase bystander intervention behaviors. During MTB, participants will discuss their knowledge and experiences with bystander intervention. Participants will then create a plan to increase their bystander intervention behaviors in the future. The interviewer will utilize a variety of motivational interviewing techniques to help guide the conversation towards change (e.g., asking questions in an open-ended manner, reflecting participants' personal values).
NO_INTERVENTION: Assessment only control condition; Participants assigned to the assessment only condition arm.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Bystander in Sexual Assault Virtual Environment (BSAVE)	The primary outcome measure consists of participants' open ended verbal responses to a series of sexually risky and non-risky interactive scenes they witness while in the virtual house party.	Two months after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Bystander Attitudes Scale	A self-report measure assessing participants' bystander related attitudes.	Two months after the intervention
Bystander Behavior Scale	A self-report measure assessing participants' actual bystander behaviors over the past two months.	Two months after the intervention
Bystander Efficacy Scale	A self-report measure assessing participants' confidence in their ability to engage in future bystander behaviors.	Two months after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nebraska Lincoln
• Collaborators: University of Nebraska

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): September 27, 2019
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): February 15, 2021
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): February 15, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 9, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 9, 2019
• First Posted (ACTUAL): November 13, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): March 19, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: motivational interviewing; sexual assault prevention; bystander intervention
• Other Study ID Numbers: 19260

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No