Drug Abuse Illicit
Conditions
Keywords
internet and mobile technology use, history of drug use, injection drug user (IDU) syringe customers
Brief summary
The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine factors associated with frequency and type of internet and mobile technology use among illegal drug users, specifically use of internet and text-messaging to obtain health care information and engage in health care utilization, specifically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and treatment services. We will target high drug activity neighborhoods in New York City and enroll participants recruited through targeted street outreach. All participants (n=336) will undergo an audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) that will assess sociodemographics, health care access and utilization, sex/drug use behavior, health status, and characteristics of general and health-related internet/mobile technology use including factors that promote or hinder use. Participants identified as using the internet ≥1/month (n=151) will return for a 4-week ACASI to report on use of the pilot website (which will largely display information currently available in the community in print/ pamphlet/ video form).
Detailed description
At the enrollment visit participants deemed eligible after screening will be consented, and given a 30 minute baseline ACASI survey. At the end of the baseline visit, those participants who reported internet use at least 1x/month (in the past month) will be offered participation in the Pilot Website Evaluation Component. For this component, participants will be instructed on how to use an educational website with health resources. Their use of the website will be tracked. They will be given an appointment to return in 4-weeks for a follow up survey at the pharmacy and a 2-week locator call.
Interventions
OTHERPilot Website Evaluation Component
The pilot health website will contain educational health information such as: health-related videos, searchable map of HIV prevention and other needed health and social services, and the option to register for automatic text message updates on relevant health information.
Sponsors
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Columbia University
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* any lifetime illegal drug use * age \> 18
Exclusion criteria
* none
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Percent of participants who use the pilot website | 4 weeks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Percent of participants who use the internet | Baseline |
| Percent of participants who use the internet at least once a month | Baseline |
| Percent of participants who use the internet for health-related purposes | Baseline |
| Percent of participants who are willing to use internet or mobile technology for health-related purposes | Baseline |
| Percent of participants who sign up for receipt of automatic text message updates on relevant health information | 4 weeks |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed