NCT02457949

Brief Summary

This study evaluates whether altering the timing and frequency of social assistance disbursement reduces drug related-harms that increase on the days surrounding monthly synchronized government social assistance cheque issue.

Trial Health

57
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
194

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2015

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
terminated

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 13, 2015

Completed
16 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 29, 2015

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 27, 2015

Completed
3.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 2, 2019

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 30, 2019

Completed
Last Updated

November 17, 2020

Status Verified

November 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

3.2 years

First QC Date

May 13, 2015

Last Update Submit

November 13, 2020

Conditions

Drug Use

Keywords

Social AssistanceDrug UseDrug-Related harm

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Illicit drug use on government cheque issue days

    Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) assessed increase of drug use defined as an increase in the frequency of drug use of at least 40% or an increase in the number of drugs used during the 3 days beginning with government cheque issue day, compared to non-cheque issue days.

    26 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Illicit drug use on non-government cheque issue days

    26 weeks

  • Hospital admissions on government cheque issue days

    26 weeks

  • Overdose

    26 weeks

  • Police service utilization

    26 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Treatment As Usual (TAU)

NO INTERVENTION

Receipt of social assistance on government cheque issue days for 6 income assistance cycles (approx 26 weeks).

Staggered Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Receipt of social assistance once monthly on a randomly assigned day that does not fall during the week of government cheque issue (Non-synchronized social assistance receipt), for 6 income assistance cycles (approx 26 weeks).

Other: Non-synchronized social assistance receipt

Staggered and Split Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Receipt of social assistance twice monthly on equally spaced randomly assigned days that do not fall during the week of government cheque issue (Non-synchronized social assistance receipt, cheque divided into two equal disbursements), for 6 income assistance cycles (approx 26 weeks).

Other: Non-synchronized social assistance receiptOther: cheque divided into two equal disbursements

Interventions

Non-synchronized social assistance receiptOTHER

Social assistance disbursement outside government cheque issue week

Also known as: Staggered
Staggered ArmStaggered and Split Arm
cheque divided into two equal disbursementsOTHER

Social assistance disbursement divided into two equal payments

Also known as: Split
Staggered and Split Arm

Eligibility Criteria

Age19 Years - 64 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • be ≥19 years of age or older
  • reside in greater Vancouver, Canada
  • report regular use of illicit drugs other than cannabis
  • receive monthly provincial income assistance
  • are not currently administered (where cheque issue/money is externally managed)
  • be eligible and willing to be a client of the local credit union who will administer the intervention
  • report intensified drug use around government cheque issue days
  • provide written informed consent
  • be willing to comply with study procedures

You may not qualify if:

  • plan to relocate outside Vancouver
  • have plans to discontinue income assistance

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

British Columbia Centre on Substance Use

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9, Canada

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Richardson L, Laing A, Choi J, Nosova E, Milloy MJ, Marshall BD, Singer J, Wood E, Kerr T. Effect of alternative income assistance schedules on drug use and drug-related harm: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Public Health. 2021 May;6(5):e324-e334. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00023-2. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

    PMID: 33857455DERIVED

  • Mendell J, Richardson L. Integrated knowledge translation to strengthen public policy research: a case study from experimental research on income assistance receipt among people who use drugs. BMC Public Health. 2021 Jan 18;21(1):153. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-10121-9.

    PMID: 33461522DERIVED

  • Richardson L, Laing A, Milloy MJ, Maynard R, Nosyk B, Marshall B, Grafstein E, Daly P, Wood E, Montaner J, Kerr T. Protocol of the impact of alternative social assistance disbursement on drug-related harm (TASA) study: a randomized controlled trial to evaluate changes to payment timing and frequency among people who use illicit drugs. BMC Public Health. 2016 Jul 29;16:668. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3304-6.

    PMID: 27473400DERIVED

Related Links

Study Officials

  • Lindsey Richardson, DPhil

    University of British Columbia

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
OTHER
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 13, 2015

First Posted

May 29, 2015

Study Start

October 27, 2015

Primary Completion

January 2, 2019

Study Completion

September 30, 2019

Last Updated

November 17, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-11

Locations

CA(1)