NCT07275892

Pilot Feasibility Trial of a Peer Support Program for Trauma Survivors

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 49 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Traumatic injuries from events like car crashes, falls, or fires are a leading cause of disability. Survivors often face not only physical challenges but also long-lasting pain, mental health challenges and difficulty returning to work and family life. Although medical care focuses on physical recovery, survivors frequently report that their emotional and social needs are overlooked and unmet. Peer support-guidance from people who have lived through similar injuries-can reduce distress and improve coping. However, no programs in Canada currently provide peer support to trauma survivors across their recovery journey, from hospital to rehabilitation to community living. The investigators worked with trauma survivors, caregivers, and healthcare providers to co-design a Peer Support Program (PSP) that offers support throughout these stages. This pilot study will test whether the program is feasible and acceptable, and explore its early impact on recovery. Results will guide a future larger trial to expand peer support in trauma care.

Conditions

• Traumatic Injury
• Burns
• Amputation
• Mental Health Outcomes

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cross-continuum Peer Support Program	Trained trauma-survivor peer supporters (n=4), supported by a research team member; peers complete a 5-session training covering trauma-informed communication, boundaries, crisis de-escalation, self-care, and secondary trauma. Trauma survivors will be recruited in acute care and have the option to meeting once with a trained peer supporter prior to discharge to inpatient rehabilitation. In in-patient rehab they will attend 1 hour peer support group sessions facilitated by the trained peer supporters twice a week for a total of 3 weeks. Once discharged the community, they will attend 1 hour peer support group sessions facilitated by the trained peer supporters once a week for a total of 12 weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-01
• Primary completion: 2027-12-31
• Completion: 2027-12-31
• First posted: 2025-12-10
• Last updated: 2025-12-10

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Canada