"OnCall": Implementation Study of M-Health for Canadian Public Safety Personnel

NCT05255419 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 13990
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 210
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

First Responders, or Public Safety Personnel (PSP), play a key role in protecting the health and safety of Canadians, yet this important work can take a toll on their mental health, leading to an elevated risk of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). Mobile health approaches are a promising tool to facilitate access to confidential on-demand mental health support both when and where it is needed. There are gaps, however, in evidence to support the use of m-health apps, particularly in relation to implementation in the PSP community. The overall purpose of this prospective cohort implementation study is to explore how OnCall, a new mobile health peer-to-peer support application for Public Safety Personnel (PSP) affects peer support help-outreach in the workplace. Implementation and impact will be tracked over 6-month period in a purposive sample of 6-8 different PSP organizations across Canada. Study findings will inform recommendations for optimizing implementation of the m-health platform with employees in other PSP organisations.

Conditions

Mental Health Issue; Mental Stress; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

peer support; mobile health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Accessing peer support via phone or text via the OnCall app (frequency count)

  Number of times OnCall users initiates a text or phone call to peer support service via the app platform (software analytics)

  Monthly intervals from 1 to 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Change in Mental health literacy (7-point Likert scale rating)

  baseline, 3 months, 6 months

• Change in level of distress (Visual analogue scale)

  Immediately following a peer support call or text exchange via the app

• Changes in symptoms of anxiety (GAD-2 screening tool)

  baseline, 3 months, 6 months

• Change in symptoms of depression (PHQ-2 screening tool)

  baseline, 3 months, 6 months

• Change in symptoms of trauma (PTSD Checklist - PCL-5)

  baseline, 3 months, 6 months

Interventions

OnCall mobile health peer support app DEVICE

Mobile health platform that provides anonymous access to peer support services that has been co-design by and for Canadian public safety personnel. OnCall is for frontline public safety providers; features include links to mental health self-assessment tools, a wellness toolbox, "tips to cope" articles and peer wisdom videos, and options to reach out to a peer support provider of their choice via telephone or text. The OnCallSupport app is for the peer support providers which includes a list of resources and an opportunity to create post-action reports following the peer support encounter. Connections are made to peer support via a telephone service that disguises the contact information of both parties. The app platform includes options to complete feedback surveys related to the app and to the peer support encounter.

Also known as: OnCall, OnCallSupport

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals employed by participating Public Safety Organizations (corrections, EMS, police, emergency communications, fire)

You may qualify if:

• Public Safety providers (police, fire, paramedics, corrections, emergency communications)
• Employed (full or part-time) by the participating organizations
• Agree to download the OnCall app on their mobile phone (Android or Apple)

You may not qualify if:

• Not able to access app on their mobile health device

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McMaster University: lead
• Movember Foundation: collaborator

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Sandra E Moll, PhD

  McMaster University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sandra E Moll, PhD

CONTACT

19054672155; molls@mcmaster.ca

Lisa Wolfe

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 16, 2022
• First Posted: February 24, 2022
• Study Start: July 30, 2022
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2023
• Study Completion: March 30, 2024
• Last Updated: June 22, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-06