Syringe-service telemedicine plus social-network HIV prevention program
Syringe Service Based Telemedicine and Social Network Driven HIV Prevention Service Implementation
This program will test whether training people who inject drugs to recruit and educate their peers through syringe service telemedicine and social networks increases HIV testing and use of prevention and treatment services in Maryland.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 360 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Johns Hopkins University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06103370 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The project recruits people who inject drugs (indexes) from syringe service programs in two Maryland counties and asks them to recruit drug-use network members using a coupon-based method. When an index successfully enrolls network members, the index-network cluster is randomized to either a peer-educator training intervention with weekly booster groups or an equal-attention control arm. Primary and secondary outcomes include HIV testing (primary), PrEP knowledge and uptake, linkage to HIV care, and initiation of medication for opioid use disorder. Implementation uses telemedicine integrated at SSP sites and community partner locations to deliver prevention services and follow-up.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults (18+) who have injected drugs within the past month, have used a participating syringe service program in the past three months, and are willing and able to be trained and to recruit at least one network member.
Not a fit: People who are not connected to participating syringe service programs, are unable to consent or to recruit network members, or who do not speak English are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could increase HIV testing and linkage to PrEP, HIV treatment, and opioid use disorder medications among people who inject drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Peer-driven and social-network interventions have shown promise for increasing HIV testing and prevention uptake among people who inject drugs and other key populations, though combining syringe-service telemedicine with network-driven recruitment is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria for index participants: * Aged 18 or older * Self-reported injection drug use in the prior month * Accessed services at the SSP in the prior 3 months * Willing to undergo training and attend weekly booster group sessions * Able to recruit at least 1 drug use Network Member (NM) into study * Willing to talk with peers about PWID topics such as HIV prevention and care * Not previously enrolled in the study as index or NM * English-speaking Inclusion criteria for network member participants: * Aged 18 or older * Self-reported injection drug use in the prior month * Have a valid coupon or able to recall the 3-digit ID number * Not previously enrolled in the study as index or NM * English-speaking Exclusion criteria: • Individuals lacking the capacity to consent
Where this trial is running
Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations
- Johns Hopkins Hospital — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Frederick County Health Department, Street Safe Program — Frederick, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Oluwaseun Falade-Nwulia, MBBS, MPH — Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Oluwaseun Falade-Nwulia, MBBS, MPH
- Email: ofalade1@jhmi.edu
- Phone: 410-550-6234
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.