A type 1 hybrid multi-site randomized controlled trial protocol for evaluating virtual interview training among...

Area of Science:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Employment Interventions
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Policies mandate employment services for autistic transition-age youth.
• Current job interview preparation methods are resource-intensive and lack standardization.
• The autism community advocates for improved job interview training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Virtual Interview Training for Transition Age Youth (VIT-TAY) compared to an active control.
• To examine the mechanisms driving employment outcomes.
• To conduct a mixed-method process evaluation of VIT-TAY implementation.

Main Methods:

• A Hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial (RCT) across 16 schools.
• Comparison of VIT-TAY with an active control (job interview didactics/e-learning).
• Evaluation of employment outcomes, mechanisms, and implementation factors.

Main Results:

• Pilot RCT demonstrated VIT-TAY's feasibility and effectiveness in improving job interview skills, reducing anxiety, and increasing employment.
• Initial findings suggest VIT-TAY enhances employment outcomes when added to transition services.
• The study protocol outlines a fully-powered RCT to confirm these findings.

Conclusions:

• VIT-TAY is a promising, adapted intervention for autistic transition-age youth's job interview preparation.
• Further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and optimize implementation across diverse settings.
• This study protocol provides a robust framework for evaluating VIT-TAY's impact on employment.