Clinical trial NCT01871298: Drug User Internet and Mobile Tech Use
Official title: Exploratory Study of Drug User Health-related Internet and Mobile Technology Use
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Drug Abuse Illicit
Keywords: internet and mobile technology use
history of drug use
injection drug user (IDU) syringe customers
Lead sponsor: Columbia University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
First posted: 2013-06-06
Enrollment: 212
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP

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.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* any lifetime illegal drug use
* age \> 18

Exclusion Criteria:

* none

Primary outcomes:
measure: Percent of participants who use the pilot website
timeFrame: 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Percent of participants who use the internet
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Percent of participants who use the internet at least once a month
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Percent of participants who use the internet for health-related purposes
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Percent of participants who are willing to use internet or mobile technology for health-related purposes
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Percent of participants who sign up for receipt of automatic text message updates on relevant health information
timeFrame: 4 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: New York
country: United States
facility: Columbia University Medical Center
state: New York
Study officials:
affiliation: Assistant Professor of Medicine and Population and Family Health, Dept of Medicine Family Med
name: Silvia Cunto-Amnesty, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: