Peer support in the Vancouver General Hospital emergency department
Official title: Creating Safety in Chaos: Integrating Peer Support Workers in Emergency Departments to Support Patients Who Use Substances and Opioids
Run by University of British Columbia · NCT07030192 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try using peer support workers—people with lived experience of substance use—to support adult emergency department patients at Vancouver General Hospital and see if it reduces patients leaving before their care is finished.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 3781 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of British Columbia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Vancouver, British Columbia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 23, 2024 |
| Main results expected | March 2028 |
| Study ends | December 2028 |
| Registry record updated | November 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07030192 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) presenting to the Vancouver General Hospital emergency department who report substance use and can choose to accept or decline peer support during their visit.
✕Probably not a fit
People under 18, patients who do not report substance use, or those receiving care at other hospitals would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit from this specific program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The program places trained peer support workers with lived experience of substance use into the Vancouver General Hospital emergency department to offer person-centred, trauma-informed support, harm-reduction resources, and navigation during ED visits. Investigators will pilot a randomized shift schedule for peers and collect quantitative data from peer interaction logs and linked administrative data (NACRS) to validate outcomes such as leaving before care completion. Qualitative interviews with patients and providers will capture acceptability and implementation issues, and a mixed-methods analysis will integrate findings to inform a future definitive randomized controlled trial. The study is focused on feasibility, acceptability, and generating preliminary incidence estimates rather than proving definitive effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce how often patients leave the ED before care is complete, improve engagement with follow-up services, and lower short-term risks such as overdose.
How similar studies have gone: Peer support interventions have shown promise for improving engagement and reducing harms in community and some ED settings, but rigorous randomized evidence for ED-implemented peer programs remains limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Emergency Department (ED) patient at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) * Age 18 years or older * Identified as using substances * Able to receive or decline peer support services during the ED visit Exclusion Criteria: * Under 18 years of age * Does not report substance use
Where it's running
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Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jessica Moe, MD — University of British Columbia
- Study coordinator: Cindy Liu, BSc
- Email: cindy.q.liu@ubc.ca
- Phone: 778-929-1281
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.