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

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03514134
• Recruitment Status: Active, not recruiting
• First Posted: May 2, 2018
• Last Update Posted: January 6, 2022
• Sponsor: University of Michigan
• Collaborators: University of Wisconsin, Madison; SIMmersion, LLC
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Matthew Smith, University of Michigan

Study Description

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.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Autism Spectrum Disorder	Behavioral: Virtual Reality Job Interview Training; Behavioral: Services as Usual	Not Applicable

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 71 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Modifying (Phase I) and Evaluating (Phase II) Virtual Reality Job Interview Training for Youth
• Actual Study Start Date: October 1, 2018
• Actual Primary Completion Date: May 20, 2021
• Estimated Study Completion Date: July 1, 2022

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Services as usual + Virtual Reality Job Interview Training; In addition to the services as usual comparator, participants will participate in Virtual Reality Job Interview Training.	Behavioral: Virtual Reality Job Interview Training; 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.; Behavioral: Services as Usual; 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.
Active Comparator: Services as Usual; 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; 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.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Change in Job Interview Skills [ Time Frame: Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment) ]
   Performance on 2 Mock Job Interviews

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Change in Job Interview Self-Efficacy [ Time Frame: Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment) and 6 month follow-up ]
   9 item self-report
2. Change in Job Interview Motivation [ Time Frame: Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment) and 6 month follow-up ]
   7 item self-report
3. Change in Job Interview Anxiety [ Time Frame: Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment) and 6 month follow-up ]
   15 item self-report
4. Change in Employment Outcomes [ Time Frame: Collected at pre-test and at 6 months after completing Post-Test Visit ]
   Obtained a part-time or full-time community-based job; time to employment

Other Outcome Measures:

1. Change in Depressive Symptoms [ Time Frame: Collected at Pre-Test and Post-Test visits (within approximately 1 month of active treatment) and 6 month follow-up ]
   mental health assessment

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 Years to 21 Years (Child, Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of autism based on school records or the social responsiveness scale version 2
• at least a 4th grade reading level
• Currently enrolled in transition services and/or presents with an individualized educational plan

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwilling to be videorecorded during primary outcome mock interviews
• Parents unwilling to provide informed consent
• unwillingness to provide minor assent

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Michigan

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109-1106

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Michigan

University of Wisconsin, Madison

SIMmersion, LLC

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Matthew Smith, PhD; University of Michigan

More Information

• Responsible Party: Matthew Smith, Associate Professor, University of Michigan
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03514134
• Other Study ID Numbers: HUM00129575
• First Posted: May 2, 2018
• Last Update Posted: January 6, 2022
• Last Verified: January 2022

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders