Telemedicine and Social Media for People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Greece

State University of New York at Buffalo219 enrolled

Overview

The current study seeks to address questions regarding internet and social media usage as well as telemedicine concept and knowledge, by conducting targeted focus group discussions (FGDs) and administering cross-sectional questionnaires among PWID in Greece. Further parameters, such as perceptions for high-quality healthcare access, confidentiality, privacy, and security, will also be explored.

The study's aim is to access the feasibility, acceptability and accessibility of social media and telemedicine as methods to obtain healthcare, in order to improve linkage-to-care among Greek substance users. Underserved populations, such as people who inject drugs (PWID) have limited access to healthcare and a potential solution to expanding healthcare access points is telemedicine. For the past decade, the investigators have studied the efficacy of a facilitated telemedicine model for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment integrated into opioid treatment programs (OTPs) for PWIDs. The investigators have achieved high rates of HCV resolution and high patient-satisfaction through facilitated telemedicine. The investigators now seek to explore whether this same intervention might be feasible and acceptable in Greece. The first step is to capture and explore the current knowledge, experiences, believes, perceptions and attitudes of PWID in Greece regarding internet and social media usage and telemedicine concept, through targeted Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and administration of cross-sectional questionnaire. The perceptions for high-quality healthcare, confidentiality, privacy and security matters will also be explored as well as further relevant attributes.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

219

Conditions

Drug Abuse, Intravenous Internet Social Media Telemedicine

Interventions

Focus group discussions and survey questionnaireOTHER

Questions regarding internet and social media usage, as well as telemedicine concept and knowledge. Assessment of the feasibility, acceptability and accessibility of social media and telemedicine as methods to obtain healthcare. Perceptions for high-quality healthcare access, confidentiality, privacy, and security, will also be explored.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria for the FDGs: * \>18 years old * PWID * Willing and able to provide informed consent and participate * Fluent in Greek spoken language * Internet access Inclusion Criteria for the cross-sectional questionnaire: * \>18 years old * PWID * Willing and able to provide informed consent and participate * Fluent in Greek spoken language Exclusion Criteria for FGD and cross-sectional questionnaire: * \<18 years old * Unable/unwilling to consent * Legally incompetent

Locations (1)

Prometheus

Athens, Greece

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

There are not specific predetermined endpoints to be defined.

This is a mixed methods study designed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and accessibility of telemedicine and social media to improve healthcare access among Greek PWUD. It is not an interventional trial. The results of this study will be used to generate endpoints and sample sizes for a larger trial.

Time frame: For the FGDs approximately up to 3-4 months is needed to enroll all study subjects. For the cross-sectional questionnaire approximately up to 6-8 months is needed to enroll all study subjects. Endpoints will be generated according to study's results.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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