Comparison of Teaching Effectiveness of VR, Video, and Written Materials on Food Hygiene and Equipment Safety

October 31, 2024 updated by: SHIH, HSIN-YU, Fu Jen Catholic University

Comparison of the Teaching Effectiveness of VR, Videos, and Written Materials on Food Hygiene Safety and Equipment Operation

This study investigates the impact of virtual reality (VR) as an educational tool in the food industry, comparing it to traditional methods like videos and written materials in teaching hygiene and safety. VR offers immersive, realistic training that allows employees to simulate food-handling scenarios, including handwashing, hazard identification, and emergency responses, which may enhance engagement and effectiveness. The study aims to clarify the advantages and limitations of VR-based education against traditional approaches by assessing learning effectiveness, usefulness, playfulness, ease of use, and long-term knowledge retention.

Participants will be assigned to one of the three educational methods (VR, video, or written materials) and evaluated through pre-tests, post-tests, and follow-up assessments one month later. Non-parametric statistical analysis, specifically the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, will assess the effectiveness of each educational method based on test scores and satisfaction surveys.

The study will be conducted at Fu Jen Catholic University's Department of Nutrition, following ethical guidelines and informed consent protocols to protect participants' welfare and data privacy. Professional supervision and carefully maintained equipment will ensure a safe learning environment, with adverse reactions monitored and documented throughout.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Virtual Reality (VR) is a rapidly evolving field with immense potential in education. In recent years, aside from medical education, VR is also growing in the food industry. Using VR, employees can receive realistic, immersive training experiences, enabling them to learn knowledge in hygiene and safety. The purpose of this shift in educational methods is to enhance the effectiveness of training for professionals. By using VR, employees can simulate real-life scenarios in restaurant, including tasks such as handling ingredients, practicing proper handwashing procedures, identifying and resolving potential hazards, and responding to emergency situations. VR in hygiene and safety education offers numerous benefits to the food industry. Therefore, this study aims to explore whether VR can replace or complement traditional educational methods in original course. By using different educational methods, including VR, videos, and written materials, the study seeks to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of traditional education and technology-based education. Building on the original course, this study compares the learning effectiveness, usefulness, playfulness, ease of use, and long-term knowledge retention of these three educational methods.

The statistical method planned for this study is non-parametric analysis, specifically the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, to analyze the participants' data. The evaluation of results will focus on the learning effectiveness assessment, with the primary evaluation indicators being the scores from the pre-test, post-test, and VR post-test. One month later, a re-evaluation of knowledge retention will be conducted. In the satisfaction survey, the main aspects assessed will be usefulness, playfulness, ease of use.

This study will first use a written consent form to ensure that participants fully understand the study's purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits. The consent form will include the following key information: the purpose of the study, the research procedures and possible risks, privacy protection measures for participants, voluntary participation, and the right to withdraw from the study at any time.

The researchers will explain the study plan in detail to the participants during the initial meeting and answer any questions they may have. This activity will take place in a classroom at Fu Jen Catholic University's Department of Nutrition. Participants will have sufficient time to read and understand the consent form thoroughly, and they will be able to ask questions before signing it. There will be two copies of the consent form: one for the participant to keep and another for the research team to archive, ensuring the safety and protection of participants. This study will ensure that all instructional activities are conducted under professional supervision, using well-tested and properly maintained equipment. While using the VR equipment, participants will be guided by trained professionals to avoid any discomfort or injuries that may result from improper use. If participants experience any adverse reactions during the study, such as dizziness, eye fatigue, or emotional discomfort, their participation will be immediately halted, and on-site personnel will provide an initial assessment and appropriate care. All adverse events will be documented and reported to the study principal investigator. If necessary, further evaluations will be conducted to determine if adjustments to the study protocol or procedures are required.

This study will strictly adhere to personal data protection regulations to ensure the confidentiality and security of all participants' information. Participants' identities will not be disclosed in any research reports or publications. These measures will help ensure that the study complies with ethical guidelines, respects the rights and welfare of participants, and addresses any potential adverse reactions.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • native Chinese speakers
  • normal vision, hearing, and hand mobility

Exclusion Criteria:

  • in other VR-related studies
  • symptoms of dizziness when wearing a virtual reality headset
  • have taken courses in food service or food hygiene and safety

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: VR Group
In the VR group, participants will wear virtual reality headsets, experiencing immersive learning in a 3D space with interactive scenarios. Interactive buttons will assist them, making it feel as if they are physically entering a large-scale food service environment. The immersive learning focuses on operating large kitchen equipment, and the first-person perspective will make participants feel as if they are truly in the environment, preparing food in real-time. The VR experience will cover everything from clothing regulations, hygiene and safety precautions, and the use of large kitchen equipment to food service procedures and emergency response. All these aspects are integrated into the learning process.
VR - Immersive instruction using virtual reality.
Experimental: Video Group
In the video group, participants will watch a video that features scenarios similar to those in the VR experience. However, instead of interacting with a 3D space, the content will be presented in a 2D format without the immersive spatial element.
Video - Educational content presented through video.
Sham Comparator: Written Materials Group
In the written materials group, the content will be presented through photos and text, without offering dynamic visuals or the immersive 3D spatial experience.
Written Materials - Instruction using text and images.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
learning effectiveness assessment
Time Frame: an hour
Primary evaluation indicators being the scores from the pre-test, post-test, and VR post-test.
an hour
knowledge retention
Time Frame: From enrollment to one month after the completion of the teaching intervention.
Re-evaluation indicators being the scores from the post-test, and VR post-test.
From enrollment to one month after the completion of the teaching intervention.
user experience feedback
Time Frame: an hour
A total of 12 questions, using a satisfaction rating scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score. The main content includes ease of use of the VR equipment, whether it enhances learning motivation, understanding of spatial concepts, and skills in food service.
an hour

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

February 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 29, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 31, 2024

First Posted (Estimated)

November 1, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

November 1, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 31, 2024

Last Verified

October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • C112203

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

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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