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. 2022 Jan-Dec:21:23259582221128512.
doi: 10.1177/23259582221128512.

Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Project ECHO in Malaysia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Suzan M Walters  1   2 , Wong Pui Li  3 , Rumana Saifi  3   4 , Iskandar Azwa  3 , Sharifah Faridah Syed Omar  3 , Zachary K Collier  5 , Asfarina Binti Amir Hassan  5 , Marwan S Haddad  6 , Frederick L Altice  4   7   8 , Adeeba Kamarulzaman  3   4 , Valerie A Earnshaw  9
Affiliations

Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Project ECHO in Malaysia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Suzan M Walters et al. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2022 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Objective: In Malaysia, HIV is concentrated among key populations who experience barriers to care due to stigma and healthcare discrimination. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased barriers to healthcare. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a transformative tele-education strategy that could improve HIV prevention and treatment. Methods: Practicing physicians who were aged 18 years or older and had internet access participated in asynchronous online focus groups. Results: Barriers to Project ECHO were conflicting priorities, time constraints, and technology. Facilitators included content and format, dedicated time, asynchronized flexible programming, incentives, and ensuring technology was available. Conclusion: Project ECHO is a promising intervention that can increase physicians' knowledge and skill set in specialty medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventionists in Malaysia in particular, but also in general, should consider these barriers and facilitators when developing Project ECHO as they may aid in developing a more robust program and increase participation.

Keywords: COVID; HIV; Malaysia; project ECHO.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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