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Analysis of institutional authors

Ugarte ACorresponding AuthorDe La Mora LAuthorGarcia DAuthorMartínez-Rebollar MAuthorDe Lazzari EAuthorTorres BAuthorInciarte AAuthorChivite IAuthorGonzalez-Cordon AAuthorBlanco JlAuthorMartinez EAuthorMallolas JAuthorLaguno MAuthor

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December 16, 2022
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Evolution of Risk Behaviors, Sexually Transmitted Infections and PrEP Care Continuum in a Hospital-Based PrEP Program in Barcelona, Spain: A Descriptive Study of the First 2 Years' Experience

Publicated to:Infectious Diseases And Therapy. 12 (2): 425-442 - 2023-01-01 12(2), DOI: 10.1007/s40121-022-00733-6

Authors: Ugarte, Ainoa; de la Mora, Lorena; Garcia, David; Martinez-Rebollar, Maria; de Lazzari, Elisa; Torres, Berta; Inciarte, Alexy; Ambrosioni, Juan; Chivite, Ivan; Solbes, Estela; de Loredo, Nicolas; Federico Del Carlo, Guillermo; Gonzalez-Cordon, Ana; Luis Blanco, Jose; Martinez, Esteban; Mallolas, Josep; Laguno, Montserrat

Affiliations

Hosp Clin Barcelona, Infect Dis Dept, HIV AIDS Unit, Villarroel St 170, Barcelona 08036, Spain - Author
Infectious Diseases Department, HIV/AIDS Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Villarroel Street 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. - Author
Infectious Diseases Department, HIV/AIDS Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Villarroel Street 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. UGARTE@clinic.cat. - Author

Abstract

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective for HIV prevention, but the PrEP care continuum also involves improving PrEP awareness, uptake, adherence, and retention in care. Users' awareness is often compromised because of vulnerability factors and risk behaviors, such as chemsex practice or specific substance use, which could lead to risk compensation. Correct adherence and retention in care are essential to achieve the full effectiveness of PrEP. This study describes changes in users' risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well also PrEP care continuum details.This was a descriptive single-center retrospective study including adults at high HIV risk screened between November 2019 and June 2021 in the PrEP program of our hospital. Demographic, behavioral, STI, adherence, and retention in care variables were assessed. Data were collected from medical records and self-report questionnaires.A total of 295 people were included, 94% men and 5% transgender women, with a mean age of 34 years (SD 10) and 10% sex workers. At baseline, 55% disclosed chemsex practice and 3% slamming. During follow-up, condom use for anal intercourse decreased from 41% to 13% (p ≤ 0.0001) and one HIV infection was detected; other risk behaviors and STIs remained stable. Chemsex, group sex, fluid exchange, and condomless anal intercourse were related to STI risk. Adherence was correct in 80% of users, and retention in care was 57%. Discontinuations and loss to follow-up were high, mainly affecting transgender women, sex workers, and people practicing fisting.PrEP program implementation in our hospital was adequate, since it allowed, in a population at high HIV risk, overall users' risk behaviors and STIs to remain stable, with only one HIV diagnosis during the follow-up. We should target specific strategies to improve adherence and retention in care, as vulnerable subgroups at higher risk of loss to follow-up are identified.© 2022. The Author(s).

Keywords

ChemsexHivPrepPrep care continuumRetention in careRisk behaviorsStis

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Infectious Diseases and Therapy due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 20/132, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Infectious Diseases.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 4.02, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-18, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 4
  • Europe PMC: 2

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-18:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 40.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 50 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 30.65.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 19 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Ugarte Ramos, Ainoa) and Last Author (Laguno Centeno, Montserrat).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Ugarte Ramos, Ainoa.