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

University at Buffalo (UB)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Social Media; Internet; Telemedicine; Drug Abuse, Intravenous

Treatments: Other: Focus group discussions and survey questionnaire

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05794984

STUDY00007088

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 219 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

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

Trial design

219 participants in 1 patient group

Targeted Focus Group Discussions and Cross-sectional questionnaire

Description:

57 people for targeted Focus Group Discussions 162 people for Cross-sectional questionnaire

Treatment:

Other: Focus group discussions and survey questionnaire