Examining the Effects of a Job Entry Intervention

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: ASD; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autism
• Interventions: Behavioral: VR-JIT/KF-STRIDE

• Registration Number: NCT04771338
• Lead Sponsor: Kessler Foundation

Brief Summary

The current study will examine the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) intervention as well as a newly developed Kessler Foundation STRength IDentification and Expression tool (VR-STRIDE) with adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Detailed Description

The current study will examine the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) intervention entitled "IMPRoving Expression of Skills and Strengths In Interviewing in a Virtual Environment" (IMPRESSIVE) which targets social competency skills needed for successful job interviewing. Specifically, 2 VR tools are utilized in the IMPRESSIVE intervention. The first tool is VR-Job Interview Training, a VR program which offers the opportunity for repeated practice with a virtual human interviewer. Preliminary evidence suggests that the VRprogram is successful in adults with ASD and schizophrenia in improving interview abilities. However, the efficacy of it has not been evaluated in adolescents with ASD. This represents a significant void in our knowledge, as we do not know whether this program is effective for youth. In addition to VR training, a newly developed tool is included in the currently proposed intervention: the Kessler Foundation STRength IDentification and Expression tool (VR-STRIDE). KF-STRIDE is focused on improving the ability to express personal strengths during the job interview, a skill that is not taught with VR training. The proposed IMPRESSIVE intervention, which combines the learning of 2 critical abilities (social skills and strength identification), has never been examined in individuals with ASD. Thus, the current proposal will be the first to examine the efficacy of these 2 combined tools in this at-risk population.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-09-01
• Study First Submitted: 2021-02-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-02-23
• Study First Posted: 2021-02-25
• Primary Completion: 2022-06-22
• Study Completion: 2023-07-26
• Status Verified: 2024-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-01-15
• Last Update Posted: 2024-01-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 34

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnoses of ASD
• or am a typically developing adolescent
• Able to speak and read English fluently

Exclusion Criteria

• History of stroke, traumatic brain injury, or any other neurological injury or disease
• History of significant psychiatric illness (bipolar, schizophrenia or psychosis)
• Uncontrolled seizures
• Any other unstable medical complications

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treatment group	VR-JIT/KF-STRIDE	Job interview training protocol for 12 sessions

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mock Job Interview Change	8 weeks	Mock Job Interview skills will be assessed by having blinded raters trained to assess job interviews scoring participants across a number of domains including expressing personal strengths and sounding professional. This rating scheme has been used in previous research (Smith et al., 2014; 2015),

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
self-reported job interview anxiety	8 weeks	Questionnaire to assess self-perceived anxiety
Job Search Behavior	8 weeks	Questionnaire to assess self-perceived job search behaviors
Employment readiness	8 weeks	Questionnaire to assess self-perceived employment readiness
Self-reported job interview skills	8 weeks	Questionnaire to assess self-perceived skills

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kessler Foundation; 🇺🇸 East Hanover, New Jersey, United States