Assessing the Effect of Distance Learning Vocational Rehabilitation on Employment Outcomes of Veterans With Psychiatric Illness and Histories of Legal Convictions

NCT03331354 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: D2451-RRX002451
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 136
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

64,000 Veterans are released annually from jails and prisons. These Veterans have a weekly unemployment rate of up to 40-55%. However, many are unable to access traditional vocational rehabilitation, not to mention specialized vocational rehabilitation for those with felony histories. Distance learning may be effective in improving access to rehabilitation as well as improving employment outcomes. The Compass system was developed to incorporate both synchronous and asynchronous distance learning to provide effective services. This study will evaluate 150 Veterans with histories of legal convictions and mental illness and/or a substance use disorder. Veterans will be randomly assigned to either a basic vocational resources condition or the the Compass condition. In the basic condition, Veterans will be provided with basic information about where they can access vocational services and a paper version of a vocational reintegration manual, specifically the About Face Vocational Manual. Veterans assigned to the Compass condition will be given access to the online instruction through Videos, live chat features, and tele-health practice interviews with feedback. Veterans will be followed for 6 months. The primary outcomes are employment and interview skills.

Conditions

Unemployment; Mental Illness; Substance Use Disorder; Legal History

Keywords

employment; distance learning; incarceration

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Competitive Employment Within Six Months of Random Assignment.

  Competitive Employment within 6 months of randomization. Competitive employment is defined as a paid position open to anyone, at least at minimum wage, and not a sheltered work position such as the VA's Compensated Work Therapy program. Additionally, day labor type activities were not counted as success.

  6 months

• Interviewing Skills

  Changes in Veterans scores on an interviewing rating form (the Veteran Interview Scale) were compared one month after entry into the study. Scores range from 0 to 30. Higher values are better.

  one month

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Job Search Self-Efficacy

  30 days

Study Arms (2)

Self-help resources

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

a self-help vocational manual

Other: Basic vocational services

Compass

EXPERIMENTAL

a distant learning vocational program

Behavioral: Distant vocational learning

Interventions

Distant vocational learning BEHAVIORAL

use of hybrid distance learning to facilitate successful employment outcomes

Also known as: Compass

Compass

Basic vocational services OTHER

self-help manual

Also known as: Basic services

Self-help resources

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• mental illness or substance use disorder
• history of a felony conviction or non-traffic related misdemeanor

You may not qualify if:

• cognitive impairment which prohibits active participation in study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development: lead

Study Sites (1)

VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Dallas, Texas, 75216-7167, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced Disorders

Limitations and Caveats

There are several areas of limitations to this study which should be noted. Based on initial goals, an N of 88 was anticipated to be at the lower limit for detecting moderate effect sizes; we fell slightly short but recruitment was adequate for our primary analyses. COVID also created an unusual environment for vocational studies with wild fluctuations in local unemployment rates and an inability to recruit in the community.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: James LePage
• Organization: VA North Texas Health Care System

james.lepage@va.gov

214-857-0240

Study Officials

• James P. LePage, PhD

  VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcomes assessors will be blinded to conditions
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Patients will be randomly assigned to either a distance learning program (COMPASS) or basic vocational services.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 31, 2017
• First Posted: November 6, 2017
• Study Start: May 1, 2019
• Primary Completion: October 3, 2022
• Study Completion: May 30, 2023
• Last Updated: June 28, 2024
• Results First Posted: June 28, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)