Telemedicine: Telehealth accessibility and acceptability among People Who Use Drugs

Project Duration JUN - JUL 2023
Location Athens

The research project “Telemedicine: Digital Access to Healthcare for People Who Use Psychoactive Substances (PWUD)” investigated the access of PWUD to digital health services, specifically telemedicine. The goal was to map the needs, barriers, and opportunities faced by this population in Greece, with the ultimate aim of shaping policies for equitable digital healthcare.

The program was implemented in Athens during June–July 2023 and included:

Quantitative research with 162 PWUD with a history of intravenous drug use, using a structured questionnaire.
Recording of internet access, computer use, and familiarity with telemedicine.
Evaluation of factors affecting digital access, such as age, homelessness, and unemployment.
Assessment of attitudes and perceptions regarding telemedicine: perceived benefits and hesitations.

Key Findings:

Only 1.9% of participants had used telemedicine, and fewer than half (46%) had heard of the term.
66% had internet access, mostly via smartphones, but only 31.5% had access to a computer.
Homelessness, unemployment, recent injection drug use, and older age were significantly associated with reduced digital access.
Despite limited experience, most participants recognized the benefits of telemedicine (e.g., saving time, avoiding travel).
The main concern was the lack of physical interaction with doctors and the inability to perform a clinical examination.

Conclusions:

The study highlighted the critical need to bridge the digital divide among PWUD, especially those experiencing homelessness or social exclusion. Awareness-raising and digital empowerment were identified as key prerequisites for the successful implementation of telemedicine in this population.

The findings contribute substantially to shaping policies that promote digital equity in the health sector.

Learn more about the program through the following links:

This project was carried out in collaboration with the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), the Hellenic Scientific Society for the Study of AIDS, Sexually Transmitted and Emerging Diseases, and Promitheas.