Peer support in the Vancouver General Hospital emergency department
Promoting Safety and Equity in Chaos: A Feasibility Study of Peer Support Workers to Support People Who Use Drugs in Emergency Departments
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
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 3181 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of British Columbia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Vancouver, British Columbia) |
| Trial ID | NCT07030192 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Vancouver, British Columbia
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.