Independent Life Skills Program for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT07029893 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HongKongPU_IndependentLifeSkil
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This project will pilot-test an Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ILSP was developed by a group of occupational therapists at Heep Hong Society based on the theories of self-regulated learning, life management, and self-management. The ILSP is a comprehensive program covering different life skills, including personal management, home management, community integration and self-management. These life skills are essential for transitioning from young adulthood and are predictors of successful transition.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorder; Independent living skills; Pilot randomized controlled trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS)

  The GAS takes into account that individuals have varying starting points and different desired outcomes based on their unique strengths and challenges. It is proven to be useful in reflecting personalised outcomes in intervention studies for adults with autism. The GAS uses a 5-point scale to create goals and measure progress, with -2 representing the baseline skill level. Progression from -2 to -1 indicates progress (50% better performance), and progression from -2 to 0 indicates the expected level of outcome (100% better performance).

  Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Confidence Questionnaire

  Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks

• IADL Competency Test

  Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks

• Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale - Hong Kong version (IADL Scale)

  Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks

Other Outcomes (2)

• Acceptability survey

  At the end of the intervention at 14 weeks

• Attendence rate

  Through intervention completion, attendence of every session in the 14-week intervention

Study Arms (2)

Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP)

EXPERIMENTAL

14-week Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP)

Behavioral: Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP)

Wait-list control

SHAM COMPARATOR

Wait-list control - participants do not receive intervention

Other: Wait-list control

Interventions

Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) BEHAVIORAL

The ILSP runs for 14 weeks, covering six areas of independent living skills and 14 weekly sessions lasting 2 hours each. The program will run in a group format with 4 participants in each group. The ILSP will be run by occupational therapists who are trained in the program delivery.

Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP)

Wait-list control OTHER

Participants do not receive the experimental treatment and will be put on a waiting list to receive the intervention after the active treatment group does.

Wait-list control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• age 18 or above;
• diagnosed with autism based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)
• borderline to normal IQ.

You may not qualify if:

• have other types of Special Educational Needs such as social and emotional mental health needs, hearing impairments
• do not consent to participate

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Karen Liu

  The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

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: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2025
• First Posted: June 19, 2025
• Study Start: August 22, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2025
• Study Completion: October 31, 2025
• Last Updated: December 1, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Locations

HK (1)