Assessing Outcomes of Three Different Museum-based Social Prescription Programs in Autistic Adults

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD
• Autism
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Independent museum visit

Visit the museum independently on one occasion

BEHAVIORAL

Guided museum visits and group discussions

Participants 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.

BEHAVIORAL

Museum visit with a friend

Participants will invite a friend or companion of their choice to visit the museum with them.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Taiwan Museum

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• National Taiwan University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-05-01

Primary Completion

2027-12-31

Completion

2027-12-31

Countries

• Taiwan

Study Locations