PeerOnCall: Implementing and Evaluating App-Based Peer Support in Canadian Fire Services

McMaster University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Firefighters

Treatments: Other: App Users (Standard Implementation); Other: App Users (Structured Implementation)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07199387

204097 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to test how best to implement a mobile peer support app called PeerOnCall in Canadian fire services. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Do firefighters use the app more with a structured implementation compared to standard implementation?
2. Does using the app improve mental health and workplace outcomes? Researchers will compare a standard implementation approach with basic onboarding to more structured implementation with weekly reminders, new content, and feedback reports to see if these features encourage more consistent app use.

Participants will:

1. Use the PeerOnCall app to access private peer support and wellness resources.
2. Participate in surveys, interviews, and focus groups about their app experience and workplace environment.

Enrollment: 2,000 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Must be a working aged adult (18-70)
• Must be employed in a participating Canadian Fire Service organization
• Agree to download the PeerOnCall app to their mobile phone (iPhone or Android)

Exclusion criteria

- Not able to access app on their smart device

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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2,000 participants in 2 patient groups

App Users (Structured Implementation)

Experimental group

Description:

All participating organizations will receive access to PeerOnCall, a mobile mental health and peer support platform co-designed by and for Canadian public safety providers (PSP) that includes: a) an app for frontline workers, b) an app for peer support providers, and c) an administrative portal for organizational leaders. The structured implementation (intervention) group will follow a structured protocol designed to promote weekly app engagement.

Treatment:

Other: App Users (Structured Implementation)

App Users (Standard Implementation)

Active Comparator group

Description:

All participating organizations will receive access to PeerOnCall, a mobile mental health and peer support platform co-designed by and for Canadian public safety providers (PSP) that includes: a) an app for frontline workers, b) an app for peer support providers, and c) an administrative portal for organizational leaders. The standard implementation (control) group will receive baseline support, allowing firefighters to use the app as they choose.

Treatment:

Other: App Users (Standard Implementation)