Drug User Internet and Mobile Tech Use

NCT01871298 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: AAAL64021R21DA034841-01A1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 212
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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).

Conditions

Drug Abuse Illicit

Keywords

internet and mobile technology use; history of drug use; injection drug user (IDU) syringe customers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Percent of participants who use the pilot website

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• 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

Study Arms (2)

Website access

OTHER

While this pilot intervention is not a randomized trial, study participants who report internet use at least once a month will told of a Pilot Website Evaluation Component that they will be able to access for a 4-week study period. This website will contain a educational information tailored to the health needs of drug users. Web content will be similar to materials and public health messages released by the NYC Department of Health and therefore, harm is not likely to arise from viewing such content.

Other: Pilot Website Evaluation Component

No website access

NO INTERVENTION

Participants who report internet use less than once a month will not receive access to the Pilot Website Evaluation Component.

Interventions

Pilot Website Evaluation Component OTHER

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.

Website access

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• any lifetime illegal drug use
• age \> 18

You may not qualify if:

• none

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Columbia University: lead
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Columbia University Medical Center

New York, New York, 10032, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Silvia Cunto-Amnesty, MD

  Assistant Professor of Medicine and Population and Family Health, Dept of Medicine Family Med

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 4, 2013
• First Posted: June 6, 2013
• Study Start: December 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2015
• Study Completion: November 1, 2015
• Last Updated: November 26, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-11

Locations

US (1)