A Peer E-mentoring Intervention to Improve Employment

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Spina Bifida; Spinal Cord Injury; Muscular Dystrophy; Juvenile Arthritis; Physical Disability; Cerebral Palsy
• Interventions: Behavioral: Empowering youth towards employment

• Registration Number: NCT02522507
• Lead Sponsor: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Brief Summary

Despite the strong business case of hiring people with disabilities, a significant proportion of youth with disabilities leave high school and neither work nor continue their education and are unprepared to meet the demands of a work environment. Although youth with disabilities have much to gain from employment readiness programs, they are often excluded from, or have limited access to school and community vocational programs. One encouraging approach to address gaps in vocational programming is through peer mentoring, which may facilitate a smoother transition to adulthood by offering support to enhance coping skills. Despite the increase in online communities, little is known about their impact on vocational mentoring for youth with physical disabilities and their parents. The purpose of this study is to develop, implement and assess the feasibility of an online peer mentor employment readiness intervention for youth with physical disabilities and their parents to improve their self-efficacy, career maturity and social support.

Detailed Description

Our primary OBJECTIVE is: (1) to develop, implement and assess the feasibility of an online peer mentor employment readiness intervention for youth with physical disabilities and their parents to improve their self-efficacy, career maturity and social support.

A mixed methods feasibility randomized controlled trial design will be conducted to develop and assess the usability of "Empowering youth towards Employment" intervention. Youth (aged 15-25) with physical disabilities and their parents will be randomly assigned to a control or experimental group (12-week, interactive intervention, moderated by peer mentors). A qualitative thematic analysis will be conducted to analyze the content of discussion forums. Interviews with youth, parents and mentors will also be conducted about their experiences in the intervention.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2015-08-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-08-12
• Study First Posted: 2015-08-13
• Study Start: 2016-01
• Primary Completion: 2019-04
• Study Completion: 2020-07
• Status Verified: 2022-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-03-10
• Last Update Posted: 2022-03-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 44

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

• Recently completed or currently participating in another employment readiness or peer support intervention.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Empowering youth towards employment	Empowering youth towards employment	This is a behavioural e-mentor intervention. Trained mentors will facilitate employment readiness learning and engage youth in discussions over a 12-week period. Each week the mentors will introduce a new employment topic and will engage youth in a discussion and answer questions.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in career maturity inventory--attitude scale (CMI-AS)	baseline (1-week pre-study arm 1), 12 weeks (post-study arm 1)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support	baseline (1-week pre-study arm 1), 12 weeks (post-study arm 1)
Change in Arc's self-determination scale	baseline (1-week pre-study arm 1), 12 weeks (post-study arm 1)
Change in family empowerment scale	baseline (1-week pre-study arm 1), 12 weeks (post-study arm 1)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada