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Peer Support Workers Feasibility Study
Sponsor: University of British Columbia
Summary
Many people with high-risk opioid use visit emergency departments (EDs), facing a high risk of death if they leave before completing care. Peer support workers (Peer) - people with lived experience of substance use - may improve patient comfort, reduce early departures, and potentially lower mortality rates. This study aims to evaluate how a hospital-implemented ED Peer program can enhance patient support, reduce barriers to care, and provide harm-reduction resources in a person-centred and trauma-informed manner. The study will also validate the outcome and obtain preliminary estimates of the benefits of decreasing patients who leave the ED before completing care.
Official title: Promoting Safety and Equity in Chaos: A Feasibility Study of Peer Support Workers to Support People Who Use Drugs in Emergency Departments
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
3181
Start Date
2024-11-23
Completion Date
2027-12
Last Updated
2025-11-21
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Peer support service
Peers approach identified patients who could potentially benefit from peer support services. Peers offer a range of supports tailored to individual patients' needs, which include referrals to clinical and social support services (e.g., social work, addictions specialist, Indigenous patient navigator, community-based addictions resources), resources (e.g., blankets, food, naloxone kit, sterile drug use supplies, information brochures), providing emotional support, and liaising between patients and healthcare providers to communicate information about patients' condition and ED trajectory. Peer support workers share their personal experiences to guide patients through their ED visit and to facilitate awareness and understanding of available resources.
Locations (1)
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada