Testing a New Device to Advance the Use of Social Skills Training With Mental Health Consumers and Clinicians

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to test a new device called the Social Skills Coach that is being created to help mental health consumers with social skills and community functioning. People diagnosed with schizophrenia and clinicians will be included as participants in this study. Mental health consumers (diagnosed with schizophrenia) will be randomly assigned to either test the new device or to participate in a social skills training course. Data will be collected from participants through surveys before participants either use the device or participate the course and afterwards. Individual interviews will be conducted with a sub sample of mental health consumers and clinicians. The study looks to test the credibility and acceptability of the new device to help mental health consumers and clinicians. it will also influence future research.

Detailed Description
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This phase I pilot study tests the feasibility, credibility, and acceptability of the prototype version of Social Skills Coach in terms of its use among mental health consumers and clinicians. The intervention aims to improve social and daily living skills and community functioning among people diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. A mixed methods approach will be taken to collect quantitative data at baseline and follow-up. Quantitative data collection includes the use of surveys that comprise validated instruments. Qualitative data collection will occur at the end of the study and will include the use of semi-structured interviews to capture experiential information. Study participants will be randomly assigned to either a social skills training course (control group) or to a study arm using the Social Skills Coach program (treatment group). The study aims to demonstrate proof of concept for a larger effectiveness trial.

Official Title
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Social Skills Coach: An Innovative Multi-Platform Device to Address Social Impairments

Conditions
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Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Social Skills Coach


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Chart diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, ability to provide consent, and independent living in the community. We will obtain written informed consent, and the consent procedure will include an evaluation of capacity to provide consent Exclusion Criteria: Under age 21 or not able to provide consent.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Convergent parallel mixed methods
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Social Skills Coach<br>The Social Skills Coach arm of the study will be provided access, instruction, and support for using the newly developed multi-platform device to address social impairments among individuals with schizophrenia, based on the evidence-based Social Skills Training (SST) intervention. | Behavioral: Social Skills Coach<br>* Social Skills Coach is a multi-platform interactive device that engages users with information and skills learned in social skills training programs. The program includes a web application and provider dashboard and encourages users to practice skills on the app and use them in the real world and then report how the application of skills was experienced.<br>|
| No Intervention: Social Skills Training course<br>Social Skills Training classes are widely available and regularly used in the study setting. As such, this group will serve as a treatment as usual control group. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feasibility: 90% recruitment, 75% data completed, 80% technical problems solved | Study Process: Recruitment, Retention, Troubleshooting | 4 weeks post intervention | 
| Credibility: Mean greater than 6 on Expectancy Rating Scale | Expectancy Rating Scale collected from client participants | 4 weeks post intervention | 
| Acceptability: 80% of participants engage at least once; 50% of group attendees enter personalized goals; 50% of participants enter an evaluation goal | Web diagnostics and through Qualitative interviews with client participants and SST trainer participants | 4 weeks post intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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mental health consumers