17448
Feasibility and Efficacy of Virtual Reality Job Interview Training in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Friday, May 16, 2014: 11:54 AM
Marquis BC (Marriott Marquis Atlanta)
M. J. Smith1, E. J. Ginger1, M. A. Wright1, K. Wright1, J. L. Taylor2, L. B. Humm3, D. E. Olsen3, M. D. Bell4 and M. Fleming1, (1)Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, (2)Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, TN, (3)SIMmersion LLC, Columbia, MD, (4)Psychiatry, Yale University, West Haven, CT
Background:  The community-based unemployment rate for adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ranges from 50-75%. Moreover, evidence-based services to support these adults in finding employment are sparse. The job interview is a common gateway to obtaining competitive community-based employment, but it can be a significant barrier for individuals with ASD to obtain employment.  Improving job interview performance is a critical target for employment services and is especially important for individuals with ASD given their significant social deficits.

Objectives:  To test the feasibility and efficacy of the internet-based 'Virtual Reality Job Interview Training' (VR-JIT) program

Methods:   VR-JIT consists of up to 10 hours of simulated job interviews with a virtual human resource representative and didactic job interview education materials. In a randomized single-blind controlled trial, 26 adults with autism aged 18-31 years were randomized to VR-JIT (n=16) or to a treatment as usual (TAU) control condition (n=10). The primary outcome measures were improved performance on standardized job interview role-plays and a measure of job interview self-confidence. Within the VR-JIT condition, change in trial performance over time was examined as a process measure. 

Results:   Regarding feasibility, participants attended 90% of VR-JIT training sessions and reported that the training was easy-to-use, helpful, and enjoyable. They also reported that training increased their confidence and prepared them for future interviews. Regarding efficacy, participants in the VR-JIT condition had greater improvement in standardized role-plays than TAU participants (p=.046).  A similar pattern was observed with regards to self-confidence at the trend level (p=.060). We also found a log linear increase in the training scores for the simulated job interview trials over time (R-Squared=.83). 

Conclusions:   The current study was a novel attempt to demonstrate changes in vocational skills through virtual reality training using an internet-based platform that can be widely used by families, support groups, and service providers. The findings provide preliminary evidence that VR-JIT is both feasible and efficacious for adults with ASD.