Rural New England Health Study (Phase 2)

Summary

This study will integrate mobile hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and treatment with expanded syringe access in order to improve uptake of HCV testing and treatment, and reduce syringe sharing behavior in rural northern New England. The intervention aims to reach rural opioid injectors with HCV and to fill service gaps identified around access to syringe services and HCV testing and treatment, while limiting the burden on local partners. If effective, this mobile model of HCV telehealth integrated with syringe services will provide a promising approach for local public health authorities seeking to curb opioid injection, syringe sharing and HCV rates in rural America, and reduce the risk environment for HIV outbreaks in those communities.

Conditions

• Hepatitis C
• Opioid Use Disorder
• IV Drug Usage

Interventions

OTHER

Mobile Tele-HCV Care

Study participants receive HCV care via telemedicine. Telemedicine appointments are performed on a mobile van.

OTHER

Enhanced Usual Care

Study participants are referred to a clinician in their area for HCV care.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tufts University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of New Hampshire

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Vermont

  collaborator OTHER

• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Better Life Partners Inc

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  collaborator NIH

• Baystate Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Peter D Friedmann, MD, MPH · Baystate Medical Center

• Thomas J Stopka, PhD, MHS · Tufts University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-05-18

Primary Completion

2024-07-31

Completion

2024-07-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations