Evaluating Implementation and Impact of PeerOnCall, a Mobile Health Approach to Peer Support for Canadian Public Safety Personnel

NCT05429619 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 14731
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 950
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

A prospective cohort study design will be implemented across four sectors and multiple organizations sites to evaluate implementation and impact of the apps. Pre/post impact data will be collected over a six-month implementation period to assess whether the apps lead to increased Public Safety Personnel outreach to peer support (primary outcome), and to increased mental health literacy, and decreased mental distress (secondary outcomes). Recruitment will take place at three levels; 1) organizations (including knowledge users/organization champions), 2) peer support providers, and 3) public safety personnel employed within each participating organization. Sources of implementation and impact data for the six-month trial will include: 1) app utilization data, 2) knowledge user/organization champion interviews, 3) surveys with public safety personnel, 4) focus groups with peer support providers, and 5) implementation costs. Analysis will focus on both implementation and effectiveness to address the research questions related to the impact of the apps, as well as how the process and context of implementation shapes effectiveness.

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 PeerOnCall app (Frequency count)

  Number of times PeerOnCall users within an organization create a connection with peer support providers via the app platform (Software analytics)

  Monthly intervals from 1 to 6 months.

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Change in Mental Health Literacy (6 items, 7-point Likert scale rating)

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months

• Changes in symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7 screening tool)

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months

• Change in symptoms of depression (PHQ-9 screening tool)

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months

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

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months

• Change in help-seeking behaviour

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months

Other Outcomes (4)

• Digital literacy

  Baseline, 3 months, 6 months

• Frequency of app use

  3 months, 6 months

• Timing of app use

  3 months, 6 months

Interventions

PeerOnCall OTHER

A mobile health peer-to-peer support platform that consists of two inter-connected apps: PeerOnCall and PeerOnCall Support. The apps were co-designed by and for the public safety community in Canada, with customized content for correctional workers, emergency communicators, firefighters, paramedics and police.

Also known as: PeerOnCall Support

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 (fire services, paramedic services, emergency communications, correctional services).

You may qualify if:

• Public Safety Personnel working in fire services, paramedic services, emergency communications and correctional services
• Employed (full or part-time) by the participating organizations
• Agree to download the PeerOnCall app on their mobile phone (Android or Apple)

You may not qualify if:

• \- Not able to access the app on their mobile health device

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McMaster University: lead
• University of Regina: collaborator
• Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment: collaborator
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC): collaborator
• Wilfrid Laurier University: collaborator
• Memorial University of Newfoundland: collaborator
• Western University: collaborator
• Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

Memorial University of Newfoundland

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Location

Western University

London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada

Location

Wilfrid Laurier University

Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3C5, Canada

Location

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Related Links

• Estimated Veteran Population by Province
• CIPSRT COVID-19 Readiness Resource Project (CRRP)

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

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2022
• First Posted: June 23, 2022
• Study Start: May 2, 2023
• Primary Completion: March 31, 2024
• Study Completion: April 1, 2024
• Last Updated: June 15, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Locations

CA (3)