Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
Using Virtual Reality to Improve Job Reentry in Adults with TBI: An RCT - Individuals who have sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI) have significant difficulty returning to work (RTW). Reduced social competence following brain injury has been shown to be a primary reason for difficulty in RTW. The goal of the current study is to improve the RTW process by implementing a Virtual Reality Job Interview Training (VR-JIT) program to target social competency skills needed for successful job interviewing. VR-JIT has been shown to be highly successful in autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia in improving job interview skills and employment outcomes. However, the efficacy of VR-JIT has not been evaluated in TBI. Thus, the objectives are: 1) to examine the efficacy of VR-JIT in improving job interview performance, confidence and anxiety, 2) to examine the efficacy of VR-JIT in improving employment outcomes at long-term follow-up and 3) to examine qualitative feedback regarding VR-JIT by members of the TBI community regarding appropriateness of the intervention for a TBI population. Anticipated outcomes are: 1) individuals with TBI who are randomly assigned to the VR-JIT group (n=30) will show improvements in interview performance, confidence and anxiety compared to an active control group (n=30), 2) individuals who complete VR-JIT will receive more job offers at long-term follow-up compared to controls, and 3) qualitative data will provide useful information regarding how to best tailor the intervention to the TBI population. Qualitative data may be used to develop products such as a TBI-specific manual (to help those with cognitive impairment) which will supplement VR-JIT. The current study will focus on one of NIDILRR’s major outcome domains, employment, by using an emerging technology (VR).
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