HEAT telemedicine program for HIV and addiction care
HIV, Equity, and Addiction Training (HEAT) Program
This project will try a telemedicine program to deliver addiction treatment to adults living with HIV in Alabama who report opioid or stimulant misuse.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Alabama at Birmingham Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| Trial ID | NCT06370481 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot tests whether a telemedicine service can feasibly and acceptably deliver substance use disorder care to people living with HIV in Alabama. Participants are adults receiving services at HIV clinics who report opioid or stimulant misuse and will be offered telemedicine-based addiction care alongside standard clinic services. The study will collect patient and provider feedback, measures of engagement and linkage to SUD treatment, and feasibility metrics. Results will inform whether telemedicine can reduce access barriers in rural and under-resourced parts of the Deep South.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) living with HIV who receive care at participating Alabama HIV clinics and report opioid or stimulant misuse are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People currently receiving SUD care outside their HIV clinic, those who are psychotic, actively suicidal, or who cannot participate independently in telemedicine interviews are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could expand timely access to addiction treatment and better connect HIV care with SUD services for people in underserved areas.
How similar studies have performed: Telemedicine has shown promise for addiction and HIV services in other settings, but few studies have tested such programs in the Deep South, so evidence in this specific population is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Receiving services at HIV clinics in Alabama * Reported opioid and/or stimulant misuse * 18 years of age or older Exclusion Criteria: * Receipt of SUD clinical care other than through HIV provider/clinic in the last 3 months * Inability to engage in interviews independently without support (e.g., cognitive impairment) * Currently psychotic * Actively suicidal: presents with a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation
Where this trial is running
Birmingham, Alabama
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, Alabama, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ellen F Eaton, MD, MSPH — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Ellen F Eaton, MD, MSPH
- Email: eeaton@uabmc.edu
- Phone: 2059750661
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.