Assessing Outcomes of Three Different Museum-based Social Prescription Programs in Autistic Adults
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-50
SponsorNational Taiwan University Hospital
About this trial
This study will examine whether visiting the National Taiwan Museum can support the social and emotional well-being of autistic adults.
The research team plans to recruit 90 autistic adults aged 18 to 50 from the Department of Psychiatry at National Taiwan University Hospital. Participants must have average-range intellectual ability and be able and willing to complete the study activities and assessments. People with serious physical or mental health conditions that would prevent full participation will not be included. Participants must also agree to audio and video recording during the activities.
After an outpatient doctor confirms eligibility, participants will complete questionnaires and choose one of three museum participation options:
1. Visit the museum once independently. 2. Join five guided museum visits with group discussions. 3. Invite a friend to visit the museum together.
Each group will include about 30 participants.
For the guided group, each session will last about 90 minutes and include a professional museum tour, a question-and-answer period, time for independent exploration, and a group discussion. Participants will be encouraged to select exhibits that interest them, record their observations, share their thoughts, listen to others, and respond to different viewpoints.
The five planned museum themes include Taiwan's history and identity, relationships between people and nature, architecture and living spaces, human evolution and the future, and attitudes toward money and financial planning. The discussions will explore everyday topics such as stereotypes, personal values, preferred living environments, hopes for the future, and managing money.
Participants will complete questionnaires before and after the program. These questionnaires will assess areas such as autistic characteristics, social communication, empathy, sensory experiences, comfort with social touch, emotional skills, loneliness, anxiety, depression, and anxiety during social interaction. Participants will also rate how enjoyable, comfortable, safe, interesting, and socially engaging they found the museum activities.
The researchers will compare participants' results before and after the program. They will also compare the three participation options to determine whether independent visits, guided group activities, or visiting with a friend produce different outcomes.
The overall goal is to understand whether museum-based activities can be used as a form of social prescribing to improve social participation, emotional well-being, confidence, and quality of life among autistic adults.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Meet the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder.
Have intellectual functioning within the normal range.
Be willing and able to participate in the study procedures.
Be willing to attend the relevant museum activities and group discussions, when applicable.
Disqualifiers
Are unwilling to complete the required assessments.
Have a serious physical or psychiatric condition that limits their physical stamina, emotional capacity, or ability to understand and complete the study procedures.
Refuse audio or video recording.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Independent museum visit
BehavioralVisit the museum independently on one occasion
Guided museum visits and group discussions
BehavioralParticipants will attend five structured museum sessions. Each group will include approximately 10 to 15 participants. Every session will consist of a guided museum visit followed by a facilitated group discussion.
Museum visit with a friend
BehavioralParticipants will invite a friend or companion of their choice to visit the museum with them.
Treatment groups
90 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: Independent museum visitExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Guided museum visits and group discussionsExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Museum visit with a friendExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Activity satisfaction
Participants will also complete an activity evaluation based on the University College London Museum Wellbeing Questionnaire. The questionnaire contains 12 items rated on a five-point scale from "never" to "always." It assesses whether participants: Felt happy. Became absorbed in the activity. Felt comfortable and relaxed. Felt safe and secure. Enjoyed the company of others. Enjoyed talking with other people. Found the activity new and interesting. Enjoyed taking part. Found the activity arrangement engaging. Considered the activity entertaining. Felt confident while participating. Experienced a sense of physical and emotional well-being after the activity. Higher scores suggest greater satisfaction.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the interventionSecondary outcomes
1
Loneliness
Measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, a 20-item measure of loneliness and perceived social isolation. Participants indicate how often they experience feelings described in each item. Higher scores indicate more loneliness.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the intervention2
Emotional intelligence
The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale is a 33-item measure of emotional abilities. It assesses areas such as expressing emotions, understanding one's own emotions, understanding the emotions of others, and using emotions to support problem-solving. Higher scores suggest higher emotional intelligence and functioning.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the intervention3
Social interaction anxiety
The Social Interaction Anxiety Scale is a self-report measure of anxiety experienced during interactions with other people. Participants rate how closely each item reflects their usual experiences. Higher scores indicate greater social interaction anxiety.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the intervention4
Depression
The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-item questionnaire used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the interventionOther outcomes
1
Autistic characteristics
The Autism Spectrum Quotient is a 50-item questionnaire used to assess autistic characteristics. It may be completed by the participant or an observer. Items are rated using four response options and then converted into binary scores. The total score ranges from 0 to 50, with higher scores indicating more pronounced autistic characteristics.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the intervention2
Empathy
The Empathy Quotient is a 40-item questionnaire used to assess empathy-related abilities. It may be completed by the participant or an observer. Items are rated using four response options and converted into binary scores. Lower total scores indicate greater difficulty with empathy.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the intervention3
Social responsiveness
The Social Responsiveness Scale is a 65-item measure of autistic characteristics that can be observed in everyday social situations. It assesses social awareness, social information processing, reciprocal social communication, social avoidance, and restricted or repetitive behavior. It may be completed by the participant or a caregiver. Higher scores indicate greater social and behavioral difficulties associated with autism.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the intervention4
Sensory processing patterns
The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile is a 60-item self-report questionnaire that assesses how individuals respond to sensory experiences in daily life. It covers visual, auditory, tactile, taste and smell, body-position, and activity-related experiences. The measure evaluates four sensory-processing patterns: Low registration. Sensation seeking. Sensory sensitivity. Sensation avoiding.
Time frame
Change from baseline to after the interventionSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
National Taiwan University Hospital
Lead sponsor
National Taiwan Museum
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov