Examining the Effects of a Job Entry Intervention

NCT ID: NCT04771338

Last Updated: 2024-01-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 34 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-07-26

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.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autism; ASD

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Treatment group

Job interview training protocol for 12 sessions

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

VR-JIT/KF-STRIDE

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Treatment group will receive 12 sessions of job interview training protocol.

Control group

No participation in any intervention protocol

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

VR-JIT/KF-STRIDE

Treatment group will receive 12 sessions of job interview training protocol.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Virtual Interview Training for Transition Age Youth (VIT-TAY); Kessler Foundation STRength IDentification and Expression tool (KF-STRIDE)

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 15 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 24 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Kessler Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Helen Genova

Associate Director, Center for Autism Research

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Helen Genova, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Kessler Foundation

Locations

Kessler Foundation

East Hanover, New Jersey, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

R-1078-19

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id