Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2026
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Randomized pilot evaluation of a virtual standardized patient training for enhancing suicide safety planning skills
Aaron M Norr1, Andrea C Katz2, David Kapelle3
1Veterans Integrated Services Network, 20 Northwest Network, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA-UCSF ACEs Aware Family Resilience Network (UCAAN), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Objective:
The Suicide Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) is an evidence-based intervention associated with reduced suicidal behavior and improved treatment engagement, yet provider fidelity in delivering SPI remains inconsistent and opportunities for structured skills practice are limited. This study evaluated whether Virtual Standardized Patient (VSP) training improved SPI delivery skills among Veterans Health Administration (VA) behavioral health providers compared with training as usual (UT).
Methods:
Thirty VA behavioral health professionals without prior formal SPI training were randomized to VSP training or UT. Primary outcomes were changes in SPI fidelity measured by blinded expert ratings using the Safety Planning Intervention Rating Scale (SPIRS) during standardized patient encounters. Secondary outcomes included self-reported knowledge, confidence, satisfaction, and usability.
Results:
Participants receiving VSP training demonstrated greater improvements in SPI fidelity than UT participants for both general safety planning skills and safety plan construction skills. More VSP participants achieved competency thresholds in general safety planning skills at follow-up. VSP participants reported significantly greater training satisfaction and usability than UT participants.
Conclusions:
VSP training improved provider fidelity in delivering SPI and may represent a scalable strategy for disseminating evidence-based suicide prevention practices across healthcare systems.