Multicenter Study

. 2022 Feb;23(2):146-158.

doi: 10.1111/hiv.13175. Epub 2021 Oct 3.

Participation, retention and uptake in a multicentre pre-exposure prophylaxis cohort using online, smartphone-compatible data collection

F Hovaguimian^{1

2}, E Martin¹, M Reinacher¹, M Rasi¹, A J Schmidt^{3

4}, E Bernasconi⁵, E Boffi El Amari⁶, D L Braun², A Calmy⁷, K Darling⁸, V Christinet⁹, C Depmeier¹⁰, C Hauser¹¹, S Läuchli¹², J Notter³, M Stoeckle¹³, B Surial¹¹, P Vernazza³, P Bruggmann¹⁴, P Tarr¹⁵, D Haerry¹⁶, R Bize¹⁷, N Low¹⁸, A Lehner¹⁹, J Böni²⁰, R D Kouyos^{2

20}, J S Fehr^{1

2}, B Hampel^{1

2

21}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
² Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
³ Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
⁴ Sigma Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
⁵ Division of Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland.
⁶ Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine Private Practice, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁷ Laboratory of Virology and Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁸ Infectious Diseases Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁹ Checkpoint Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹⁰ Private practice Kalkbreite, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
¹² Dermatologic Centre Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹³ Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
¹⁴ Arud Centre for Addiction Medicine, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹⁵ Kantonsspital Baselland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
¹⁶ Positive Council, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹⁷ Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹⁸ Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
¹⁹ Swiss AIDS Federation, Zurich, Switzerland.
²⁰ Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
²¹ Checkpoint Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

PMID: 34605153
PMCID: PMC9292805
DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13175

Multicenter Study

Participation, retention and uptake in a multicentre pre-exposure prophylaxis cohort using online, smartphone-compatible data collection

F Hovaguimian et al. HIV Med. 2022 Feb.

. 2022 Feb;23(2):146-158.

doi: 10.1111/hiv.13175. Epub 2021 Oct 3.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
² Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
³ Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
⁴ Sigma Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
⁵ Division of Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland.
⁶ Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine Private Practice, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁷ Laboratory of Virology and Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁸ Infectious Diseases Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁹ Checkpoint Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹⁰ Private practice Kalkbreite, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
¹² Dermatologic Centre Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹³ Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
¹⁴ Arud Centre for Addiction Medicine, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹⁵ Kantonsspital Baselland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
¹⁶ Positive Council, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹⁷ Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹⁸ Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
¹⁹ Swiss AIDS Federation, Zurich, Switzerland.
²⁰ Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
²¹ Checkpoint Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

PMID: 34605153
PMCID: PMC9292805
DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13175

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of a national pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme using smartphone-compatible data collection.

Methods: This was a multicentre cohort study (NCT03893188) enrolling individuals interested in PrEP in Switzerland. All centres participate in the SwissPrEPared programme, which uses smartphone-compatible data collection. Feasibility was assessed after centres had enrolled at least one participant. Participants were HIV-negative individuals presenting for PrEP counselling. Outcomes were participation (number enrolled/number eligible), enrolment rates (number enrolled per month), retention at first follow-up (number with first follow-up/number enrolled), and uptake (proportion attending first visit as scheduled). Participant characteristics were compared between those retained after baseline assessment and those who dropped out.

Results: Between April 2019 and January 2020, 987 individuals were assessed for eligibility, of whom 969 were enrolled (participation: 98.2%). The median enrolment rate was 86 per month [interquartile range (IQR) 52-137]. Retention at first follow-up and uptake were both 80.7% (782/969 and 532/659, respectively). At enrolment, the median age was 40 (IQR 33-47) years, 95% were men who have sex with men, 47% had a university degree, and 75.5% were already taking PrEP. Most reported multiple casual partners (89.2%), previous sexually transmitted infections (74%) and sexualized drug use (73.1%). At baseline, 25.5% tested positive for either syphilis, gonorrhoea or chlamydia. Participants who dropped out were at lower risk of HIV infection than those retained after baseline assessment.

Conclusions: In a national PrEP programme using smartphone-compatible data collection, participation, retention and uptake were high. Participants retained after baseline assessment were at considerable risk of HIV infection. Younger, less educated individuals were underrepresented in the SwissPrEPared cohort.

Keywords: HIV; cohort study; pre-exposure prophylaxis; prevention programme.

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Conflict of interest statement

The institution of EB received fees for his participation on advisory boards and travel grants from Gilead Sciences, MSD, ViiV Healthcare, Abbvie, Pfizer, and Sandoz. DLB received honoraria for advisory board participation from Gilead Sciences, MSD and ViiV Healthcare. The institution of KD received research funding unrelated to this publication from Gilead Sciences and sponsorship for attendance at specialist meetings from MSD. MS is an advisory board member of Gilead Sciences, MSD and ViiV Healthcare, and received travel grants from Gilead Sciences. The institution of BS received travel grants from Gilead Sciences. The institution of PT received grants and advisory fees from ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences, outside the submitted work. JSF received research grants unrelated to the submitted work from Merck & Co, Gilead Sciences, and ViiV Healthcare. The institution of BH received research and travel grants from ViiV Healthcare, MSD and Gilead Sciences. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest. Open Access Funding provided by Universitat Zurich.

Figures

**FIGURE 1**
Study flow diagram [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

**FIGURE 2**
Number of different previous sexually transmitted infections (STIs) self‐reported at baseline (a) and type of self‐reported STIs (b) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

**FIGURE 3**
Substances used before/during sex in the previous 3 months among 665 SwissPrEPared participants. GHB/GBL, γ‐hydroxybutyric acid/γ‐butyrolactone; LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide; ecstasy/MDMA, 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Participation, retention and uptake in a multicentre pre-exposure prophylaxis cohort using online, smartphone-compatible data collection

Affiliations

Participation, retention and uptake in a multicentre pre-exposure prophylaxis cohort using online, smartphone-compatible data collection

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Associated data

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Miscellaneous