S129. Preliminary Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate Virtual Reality Job Interview as an Enhancement to the Individual Placement and Support Model of Supported Employment
Year: 2019
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Virtual reality job interview training (VR-JIT) is an internet-based intervention designed to improve the job interview skills of adults with severe mental illness through repetitively practicing job interviews with a virtual interviewer (and receiving feedback on interview performance). VR-JIT trainees improved interview skills and access to employment across five randomized controlled trials. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the community effectiveness of VR-JIT at enhancing employment readiness outcomes among individuals with severe mental illness enrolled in Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services. This presentation will focus on the study’s preliminary results. Individuals with severe mental illness (i.e., psychotic or mood disorders) enrolled in IPS supported employment were randomized (2:1 ratio) to receive IPS with the addition of VR-JIT (IPS+VR-JIT) (n=29) or IPS only (n=17). Employment (or research) staff delivered VR-JIT at a computer lab located within the mental health service agency. The agency placed the computer lab at a site that was either geographically central among their satellite service provider locations (or on campus at the satellite providers). All participants completed a series of clinical and cognitive assessments at baseline. Participants also completed a series of assessments at pre-test and post-test, including: two job-interview role-plays, and self-report surveys assessing interviewing anxiety, interviewing self-confidence, and interviewing motivation. Participants were diagnosed with bipolar disorder (43%), schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (38%), or major depressive disorder (19%). Participants randomized to IPS+VR-JIT (compared to IPS only) demonstrated higher employment rates at six-month follow-up (50% compared to 12.5%). In addition, we observed that the IPS+VR-JIT group (compared to the IPS only group) had higher interview role-play performance scores (Cohen’s d=0.51 vs. Cohen’s d= 0.01) and motivation to interview (Cohen’s d=0.52 vs. Cohen’s d= 0.28), and reduced interviewing anxiety (Cohen’s d= -0.63 vs. Cohen’s d= -0.31). Meanwhile, the groups did not differ with respect to changes in interviewing self-confidence (Cohen’s d < 0.40 for both groups). Overall, the groups did not differ with respect to sex, education, race, ethnicity, diagnoses, cognitive ability, and symptom severity. Preliminary findings are promising and suggest that using VR-JIT as a supplement to IPS services may lead to higher rates of competitive employment within six months as well as increased interviewing skills and interviewing motivation along with decreased anxiety about interviewing.
Source: Schizophrenia Bulletin
Authors: Matthew Smith, Justin Smith, Michael Fleming, Neil Jordan, Morris Bell, Kim Mueser, Susan McGurk, Eugene Oulvey, Lisa Razzano
Language: English
Subfield: Safety Research
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2937118017