KF STRIDE to Improve Job Interview Skills

Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

A Strength-Based Intervention to Improve Job Interview Skills in Young Adults

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04820647
• Other study ID #: E-1139-21
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 29, 2021
• Est. completion date: January 12, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: March 2024
• Source: Kessler Foundation
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The goals of the current study are to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of Kessler Foundation-Strength Identification and Expression (KF-STRIDE) in an 8-week randomized controlled trial comparing the intervention to services as usual (SAU).

Description:

This study will evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a strength-based intervention (Kessler Foundation Strength Identification and Expression; KF-STRIDE) that can enhance job interview skills and employment. Despite possessing employable talents, the core social deficits of transition age youth with autism spectrum disorder (TAY-ASD) make it difficult for this group to articulate their individual strengths. This inability to identify and express one's strengths to a potential employer can negatively affect interview performance and lead to difficulty with job obtainment. Thus, the current proposal will examine the effectiveness (Aim 1), acceptability, usability, and feasibility (Aim 2) of a novel strength-based intervention, KF-STRIDE, which is designed to enhance the ability of TAY-ASD to identify personal strengths and effectively discuss them. The goals of the current study are to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of KF-STRIDE in an 8-week randomized controlled trial comparing the intervention to services as usual (SAU). The study will be performed at two private therapeutic schools. Compared to a SAU group, we hypothesize that the KF-STRIDE group will: a) improve the ability to identify strengths (Hypothesis 1), b) improve the ability to express strengths (Hypothesis 2), c) improve other job interview skills (Hypothesis 3) and finally c) improve ability to obtain employment 6-months following the intervention (Hypothesis 4). In this way, the current study is in line with the NIMH's experimental therapeutics model, as we will examine whether the intervention improves employment, as well as identify potential mechanistic targets that could affect outcome. In Aim 2, we will also monitor fidelity, acceptability, usability, and feasibility of the strength-based intervention. The long-term goal of the current research is to collect pilot data that will lead to fully-powered effectiveness and implementation evaluations of KF-STRIDE in other community settings.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 40
• Est. completion date: January 12, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: January 12, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 14 Years to 26 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Live in the United States of America

• Ages of 14-26

• Speak English fluently and at a 4th grade reading level

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, or neurological injury or disease in the past (like brain tumor or epilepsy).

• History of significant psychiatric illness

• Uncontrolled seizures or other unstable medical complications.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Intervention

Behavioral:
• KF-STRIDE
KF Stride works to improve identification (awareness) of personal character strengths and 2) express them in a socially appropriate way during a job interview

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Kessler Foundation	East Hanover	New Jersey

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Kessler Foundation

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Mock Job Interview	Blinded reviewers using a standardized scoring measure will rate the video recorded mock job interviews.	Week 8
Primary	employment status (yes=1, no=0)	We will examine whether the person became employed or other changes to their employment status.	6 months post intervention
Primary	time-to-reach-employment (assessed as weeks since intervention completion).	We will examine how long it took for the person to obtain employment.	6 months post intervention