The main objective of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of using telemedicine for harm reduction services in remote or underserved areas, compared to standard in-person care.

Expected outcomes:

By the end of the project, students are expected to:

1. Determine whether telemedicine-based harm reduction services can produce comparable or better health outcomes than standard in-person care for people who use drugs in remote areas.
2. Quantify the environmental impact difference between telemedicine and standard care approaches.
3. Assess the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine interventions for harm reduction.
4. Identify potential barriers and facilitators to implementing telemedicine-based harm reduction services in remote areas.
5. Develop recommendations for scaling up telemedicine harm reduction services, including necessary adaptations for different cultural and technological contexts.
6. Provide evidence-based insights to inform policy decisions on the use of telemedicine in harm reduction strategies.
7. Contribute to the broader understanding of how technology can be leveraged to improve access to healthcare services in underserved populations.

Literature Review and Project Planning:

• Conduct a comprehensive literature review on telemedicine in harm reduction
• Develop a detailed project proposal and timeline
• Design the study protocol, including inclusion/exclusion criteria for participants

Ethical and Regulatory Compliance:

• Prepare and submit an ethics application to the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Obtain necessary permissions from local health authorities
• Develop informed consent forms and processes

Participant Recruitment and Randomization:

• Identify and reach out to potential participants in remote areas
• Screen participants based on inclusion/exclusion criteria
• Implement a randomization process to assign participants to groups

Telemedicine Platform Setup:

• Select or develop an appropriate telemedicine platform
• Ensure the platform meets privacy and security requirements
• Create digital resources and educational materials for the platform

Data Collection Tools Development:

• Design surveys and health assessment tools
• Develop systems for tracking environmental impact metrics
• Create data collection protocols for both telemedicine and standard care groups

Training and Implementation:

• Train research assistants and healthcare providers on the study protocol
• Set up and test the telemedicine system in the intervention areas
• Implement the intervention and control protocols

Data Collection:

• Conduct baseline assessments for all participants
• Regularly collect health outcome data throughout the study period
• Gather data on telemedicine usage and environmental impact metrics

Monitoring and Quality Control:

• Regularly review data for completeness and accuracy
• Monitor adherence to the study protocol
• Address any technical or logistical issues that arise

Data Analysis:

• Clean and prepare the collected data for analysis
• Perform statistical analyses to compare outcomes between groups
• Conduct cost-effectiveness and environmental impact analyses

Interpretation and Reporting:

• Interpret the results in the context of existing literature
• Prepare a comprehensive research report
• Develop recommendations for policy and practice

Dissemination:

• Prepare a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal
• Create presentations for academic conferences
• Develop a summary of findings for stakeholders and the general public

Evaluation and Future Planning:

• Assess the strengths and limitations of the study
• Identify areas for future research
• Develop proposals for scaling up successful interventions

Access to data, mentorship time, one on one support, responsive team. A healthcare professional with expertise in harm reduction will be available for consultation. Will provide guidance on study design and data analysis.