Autism Spectrum DisorderNCT07029893
Independent Life Skills Program for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder
A study testing Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This project will pilot-test an Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ILSP was developed by a group of occupational therapists at Heep Hong Society based on the theories of self-regulated learning, life management, and self-management. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 22 Aug 2024to 31 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- age 18 or above;
- diagnosed with autism based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)
- borderline to normal IQ.
Who cannot join
- have other types of Special Educational Needs such as social and emotional mental health needs, hearing impairments
- do not consent to participate
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Independent Life Skills Program for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
This project will pilot-test an Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ILSP was developed by a group of occupational therapists at Heep Hong Society based on the theories of self-regulated learning, life management, and self-management. The ILSP is a comprehensive program covering different life skills, including personal management, home management, community integration and self-management. These life skills are essential for transitioning from young adulthood and are predictors of successful transition.
Read the detailed description
Acquiring daily life skills, including personal management, home management, community integration, and self-management, is crucial for enhancing quality of life and promoting autonomous living. However, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), encompassing both adolescents and adults, often face challenges and demonstrate limited levels of independence when it comes to engaging in these daily living skills.
This pilot testing aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the ILSP for individuals with ASD. It will also pilot-test the benefits of daily living skills and confidence.
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Being tested
- Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP), Wait-list control
- Keywords
- Autism spectrum disorder, Independent living skills, Pilot randomized controlled trial
- Medical subject headings
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP)Behavioural
The ILSP runs for 14 weeks, covering six areas of independent living skills and 14 weekly sessions lasting 2 hours each. The program will run in a group format with 4 participants in each group. The ILSP will be run by occupational therapists who are trained in the program delivery.
Wait-list controlOther
Participants do not receive the experimental treatment and will be put on a waiting list to receive the intervention after the active treatment group does.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) | Experimental | 14-week Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) Receives: Behavioral: Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) |
| Wait-list control | Sham comparator | Wait-list control - participants do not receive intervention Receives: Other: Wait-list control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS)
The GAS takes into account that individuals have varying starting points and different desired outcomes based on their unique strengths and challenges. It is proven to be useful in reflecting personalised outcomes in intervention studies for adults with autism. The GAS uses a 5-point scale to create goals and measure progress, with -2 representing the baseline skill level. Progression from -2 to -1 indicates progress (50% better performance), and progression from -2 to 0 indicates the expected level of outcome (100% better performance).
Measured: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks
Secondary outcomes (3)
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Confidence Questionnaire
This questionnaire was designed by the occupational therapists. It covers the six areas of the ILSP. Participants will be asked to rate their confidence in completing those six areas and 14 skills using an 11-point scale, from 0 as no confidence at all to 10 as full confidence. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 300.
Measured: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks
IADL Competency Test
Based on the content of the ILSP, the occupational therapists developed this competency test to assess participants' competence in 30 skills. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 30.
Measured: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks
Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale - Hong Kong version (IADL Scale)
It covers nine complex daily tasks (IADL) needed to live independently (e.g., doing housework, preparing meals, taking medications properly, managing finances, using a telephone). A 4-point scoring system is used with 0, representing unable to perform to 3 representing complete independence. The score ranges from 0 - 27, with lower scores indicating less ability to complete the daily tasks.
Measured: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Jun 2025
- Study start22 Aug 2024
- Primary completion31 Oct 2025
- Study completion31 Oct 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Autism Spectrum DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, LIU Karen, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Investigators
- Karen Liu, Principal investigator, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07029893
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HongKongPU_IndependentLifeSkil
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 10 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 1 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: The project is considering applying for external funding. The IPD may be shared after the funding application announcement and after data collection.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Independent Life Skills Program for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07029893
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HongKongPU_IndependentLifeSkil
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Keywords
- Autism spectrum disorder, Independent living skills, Pilot randomized controlled trial
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This project will pilot-test an Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ILSP was developed by a group of occupational therapists at Heep Hong Society based on the theories of self-regulated learning, life management, and self-management. The ILSP is a comprehensive program covering different life skills, including personal management, home management, community integration and self-management. These life skills are essential for transitioning from young adulthood and are predictors of successful transition.
Detailed description
Acquiring daily life skills, including personal management, home management, community integration, and self-management, is crucial for enhancing quality of life and promoting autonomous living. However, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), encompassing both adolescents and adults, often face challenges and demonstrate limited levels of independence when it comes to engaging in these daily living skills.
This pilot testing aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the ILSP for individuals with ASD. It will also pilot-test the benefits of daily living skills and confidence.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) | Experimental | Behavioral: Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP)14-week Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) |
| Wait-list control | Sham comparator | Other: Wait-list controlWait-list control - participants do not receive intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- age 18 or above;
- diagnosed with autism based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)
- borderline to normal IQ.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- have other types of Special Educational Needs such as social and emotional mental health needs, hearing impairments
- do not consent to participate
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP)The ILSP runs for 14 weeks, covering six areas of independent living skills and 14 weekly sessions lasting 2 hours each. The program will run in a group format with 4 participants in each group. The ILSP will be run by occupational therapists who are trained in the program delivery. | Behavioural | Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) |
| Wait-list controlParticipants do not receive the experimental treatment and will be put on a waiting list to receive the intervention after the active treatment group does. | Other | Wait-list control |
Primary outcome
Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS)
Time frame: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks
The GAS takes into account that individuals have varying starting points and different desired outcomes based on their unique strengths and challenges. It is proven to be useful in reflecting personalised outcomes in intervention studies for adults with autism. The GAS uses a 5-point scale to create goals and measure progress, with -2 representing the baseline skill level. Progression from -2 to -1 indicates progress (50% better performance), and progression from -2 to 0 indicates the expected level of outcome (100% better performance).
3 secondary outcomes
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Confidence Questionnaire
Time frame: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks
IADL Competency Test
Time frame: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks
Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale - Hong Kong version (IADL Scale)
Time frame: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. The project is considering applying for external funding. The IPD may be shared after the funding application announcement and after data collection.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Karen Liu principal investigator
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Independent Life Skills Program (ILSP) in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) (time frame: Before the intervention period, and at the end of the intervention period at 14 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Dec 2025.