Modifying (Phase I) and Evaluating (Phase II) Virtual Reality Job Interview Training for Youth in Transition

NCT03514134 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: HUM001295755R34MH111531-03
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 71
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The unemployment rate is quite high among adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Inadequate transition planning during high school and gaps between vocational needs and availability of evidence-based services help explain the struggles of transition-age youth at obtaining employment. There is a paucity of research on developing and evaluating services to support the transition to the work force after graduating from high school. The lack of available resources to support transition-age youth with an ASD speaks to the need to develop interventions that ameliorate obstacles to employment and help support the transition to the work force. Due to the social deficits characterizing ASD innovative interventions could target preparing job interview skills for students facing the transition to employment as the job interview is a critical gateway to securing a job offer. Thus, the overarching goal of this study is to modify an existing virtual reality job interview skills training program for use in high school students with ASD and to test the feasibility and effectiveness of conducting this intervention in a high school setting via a small controlled trial. Thus, study's first aim is to modify the existing 'Virtual Reality Job Interview Training' program to meet the specific needs of high school seniors with ASD. This will accomplish this by conducting in depth interviews with high school students with ASD and their vocational counselors to solicit feedback to modify the current training's learning goals, content, usability, and simulated interview scripts to meet the specific needs of transition age youth. An expert panel will determine the final modifications to the training program based on the results of the qualitative data analysis and their own views of the program. Second aim of the study is to conduct a pilot trial to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, portability, fidelity and preliminary effectiveness of the modified intervention in a randomized controlled trial. This study will also explore potential mechanisms for effectiveness and collect pilot implementation data.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Job Interview Skills

  Interviewing skills will be measured using a role-play measure in which subjects act out one job interview scenario with trained actors. Interviews will be video recorded and scored. There is one mock interview and pre-test and one mock interview at post-test. The method of assessment is the job interview skills rating scale as measured by the Mock Interview Rating Scale, which has 14 items with each item ranging from 1 (Unlikely) to 7 (Very Likely). Possible scores range from 14 to 98, with higher scores indicating better interview skills.

  Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Job Interview Self-Efficacy

  Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment)

• Change in Job Interview Anxiety

  Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment)

• Competitive Employment

  Collected at pre-test and at 6 months after completing Post-Test Visit

Other Outcomes (1)

• Change in Depressive Symptoms

  Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment).

Study Arms (2)

Services as usual + Virtual Reality Job Interview Training

EXPERIMENTAL

In addition to the services as usual comparator, participants will participate in Virtual Reality Job Interview Training.

Behavioral: Virtual Reality Job Interview Training; Behavioral: Services as Usual

Services as Usual

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Study participants will be receiving their community-based or school-based services as usual that may include but is not limited to vocational skill training, daily living skill training, and social skill training.

Behavioral: Services as Usual

Interventions

Virtual Reality Job Interview Training BEHAVIORAL

Students will engage in didactic training related to strategies to perform well during a job interview as well as repeated practice with a virtual hiring manager. Throughout and after completion of the virtual interviews, participants will receive feedback on their performance.

Services as usual + Virtual Reality Job Interview Training

Services as Usual BEHAVIORAL

Study participants will be receiving their community-based or school-based services as usual that may include but is not limited to vocational skill training, daily living skill training, and social skill training.

Services as Usual; Services as usual + Virtual Reality Job Interview Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 21 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• years old and enrolled in high school or post-high school transition programming;
• Educational Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder using the Social Responsivity Scale 2nd Edition28, or a diagnosis of cognitive impairment, emotional disability, educational impairment or other health impairment according to the students Individualized Education Plan (IEP). They may have diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder as indicated in their IEP/school plan, or as indicated by a parent;
• Fluency in English with at least a 3rd grade reading level (confirmed with the Wide Range Achievement Test);
• Currently receiving transitional services as specified in IEP or other;
• Willing to be video-recorded; and
• Willing and able to provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Has an uncorrected hearing or visual problem that prevents him or her from using the training.
• Has a medical illness that compromises their cognition (for example, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Michigan: lead
• University of Wisconsin, Madison: collaborator
• SIMmersion, LLC: collaborator
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-1106, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Brittany Ross
• Organization: University of Michigan

rossbrit@umich.edu

(734) 764-2368

Study Officials

• Matthew Smith, PhD

  University of Michigan

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

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

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 19, 2018
• First Posted: May 2, 2018
• Study Start: October 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2020
• Study Completion: August 1, 2020
• Last Updated: June 22, 2023
• Results First Posted: June 22, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-06

Locations

US (1)