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Liegeon G, Duffy A, Brooks C, Honour H, Pozniak A, Molina JM. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis services, provision, and delivery in the European treatment network of HIV, hepatitis and global emerging infectious diseases (NEAT ID). HIV Med 2024; 25:353-360. [PMID: 38040445 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We conducted a survey to evaluate HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) practices in a European clinical research network on HIV, hepatitis, and global infectious diseases (NEAT ID). METHODS An online survey comprising 22 questions was sent via a secure electronic tool to the investigating physician of each of the 342 NEAT ID study centres across 15 European countries in November 2020. RESULTS In total, 50 sites from 12 countries responded (15% response rate). Most sites were in Western Europe, two were in Poland, and one was in Hungary. Of the responding sites, 45 provided PrEP services for a total of 27 416 PrEP users, with 1361 new PrEP initiators each month. These centres supplied PrEP for men who have sex with men (100%), people who inject drugs (84%), sex workers (84%), women (62%), and transgender women (31%). PrEP persistence after 1 year was >90%, 75%-90%, and 40%-75% in 17, 24, and 4 centres, respectively. In total, 32/45 (71%) centres reported strong community-based organization commitment at their site, and 15/45 (33%) centres developed task-shifting processes to deliver PrEP through nurses (11/15), pharmacists (5/15), and key-population peers (2/15). The biggest barriers to implementation of PrEP were low awareness of and knowledge about PrEP (47%), unwillingness to disclose sexual identity or at-risk behaviour (36%), and lack of administrative support (29%). Of the 45 centres, 32 (71%) have already been involved in PrEP research and 43 (96%) were interested in participating in such studies. CONCLUSIONS The few NEAT ID centres that responded to the survey showed disparities in PrEP deployment and practices despite a common interest in participating in research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffroy Liegeon
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Saint Louis and Lariboisière Hospitals, Paris, France
| | - Annie Duffy
- Research Organisation Kings Cross, London, UK
| | | | | | - Anton Pozniak
- Department of HIV Medicine, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jean Michel Molina
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Saint Louis and Lariboisière Hospitals, Paris, France
- INSERM UMR 944, Paris, France
- Paris Cité University, Paris, France
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Luc CM, Levy J, Bahromov M, Jonbekov J, Mackesy-Amiti ME. HIV knowledge, self-perception of HIV risk, and sexual risk behaviors among male Tajik labor migrants who inject drugs in Moscow. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:156. [PMID: 38212755 PMCID: PMC10782601 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17543-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interplay of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) knowledge and self-perception of risk for HIV among people who inject drugs is complex and understudied, especially among temporary migrant workers who inject drugs (MWID) while in a host country. In Russia, Tajik migrants make up the largest proportion of Moscow's foreign labor. Yet, HIV knowledge and self-perceived risk in association with sexual risk behavior among male Tajik MWID in Moscow remains unknown. OBJECTIVE This research examines knowledge about HIV transmission, self-perception of HIV risk, and key psychosocial factors that possibly contribute to sexual risk behaviors among male Tajik labor MWID living in Moscow. METHODS Structured interviews were conducted with 420 male Tajik labor MWID. Modified Poisson regression models investigated possible associations between major risk factors and HIV sexual risk behavior. RESULTS Of the 420 MWID, 255 men (61%) reported sexual activity in the last 30 days. Level of HIV knowledge was not associated in either direction with condom use or risky sexual partnering, as measured by sex with multiple partners or female sex workers (FSW). Lower self-perceived HIV risk was associated with a greater likelihood of sex with multiple partners (aPR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.34, 2.40) and FSW (aPR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.59), but was not associated with condom use. Police-enacted stigma was associated with sex with multiple partners (aPR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.49) and FSW (aPR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.54). While depression and lower levels of loneliness were associated with condomless sex (aPR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.24; aPR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.92, respectively), only depression was associated with condomless sex with FSW (aPR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.54). CONCLUSIONS HIV prevention programing for male Tajik MWID must go beyond solely educating about factors associated with HIV transmission to include increased awareness of personal risk based on engaging in these behaviors. Additionally, psychological services to counter depression and police-enacted stigma are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith Levy
- University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, USA
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Gokengin D, Bursa D, Skrzat-Klapaczynska A, Alexiev I, Arsikj E, Balayan T, Begovac J, Cicic A, Dragovic G, Harxhi A, Aimla K, Lakatos B, Matulionyte R, Mulabdic V, Oprea C, Papadopoulos A, Rukhadze N, Sedlacek D, Sojak L, Tomazic J, Vassilenko A, Vasylyev M, Verhaz A, Yancheva N, Yurin O, Kowalska J. PrEP Scale-Up and PEP in Central and Eastern Europe: Changes in Time and the Challenges We Face with No Expected HIV Vaccine in the near Future. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11010122. [PMID: 36679967 PMCID: PMC9867039 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11010122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With no expected vaccine for HIV in the near future, we aimed to define the current situation and challenges for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The Euroguidelines CEE Network Group members were invited to respond to a 27-item survey including questions on PrEP (response rate 91.6%). PrEP was licensed in 68.2%; 95 centers offered PrEP and the estimated number on PrEP was around 9000. It was available in daily (40.1%), on-demand (13.3%), or both forms (33.3%). The access rate was <1−80%. Three major barriers for access were lack of knowledge/awareness among people who are in need (59.1%), not being reimbursed (50.0%), and low perception of HIV risk (45.5%). Non-occupational PEP was available in 86.4% and was recommended in the guidelines in 54.5%. It was fully reimbursed in 36.4%, only for accidental exposures in 40.9%, and was not reimbursed in 22.72%. Occupational PEP was available in 95.5% and was reimbursed fully. Although PrEP scale-up in the region has gained momentum, a huge gap exists between those who are in need of and those who can access PrEP. Prompt action is required to address the urgent need for PrEP scale-up in the CEE region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Gokengin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Türkiye
- HIV/AIDS Research and Practice Center, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Türkiye
- Correspondence: or
| | - Dominik Bursa
- Department of Adults’ Infectious Diseases, Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-201 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agata Skrzat-Klapaczynska
- Department of Adults’ Infectious Diseases, Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-201 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ivailo Alexiev
- Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Elena Arsikj
- University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions Skopje, Faculty of Medicine Skopje, Ss.Cyril and Methodius University, 1010 Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Tatevik Balayan
- National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | - Josip Begovac
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Alma Cicic
- Center for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Institute for Public Health of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Gordana Dragovic
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Arjan Harxhi
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Center of Tirana, 1001 Tirana, Albania
| | - Kerstin Aimla
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tartu University Hospital, 50406 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Botond Lakatos
- Department of HIV and Tropical Diseases, South Pest Central Hospital, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1097 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Raimonda Matulionyte
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius University, LT-08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Velida Mulabdic
- Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Cristiana Oprea
- Victor Babes Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 030303 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Antonios Papadopoulos
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Nino Rukhadze
- Infectious Diseases, AIDS & Clinical Immunology Research Center, 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Dalibor Sedlacek
- HIV Center University Hospital, Charles University, 11000 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Lubomir Sojak
- Center for Treatment of HIV/AIDS Patients, Department of Infectology and Geographical Medicine, Academic L. Derer’s University Hospital, 2412 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Janez Tomazic
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna Vassilenko
- Global Fund Grant Management Department, Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Medical Technologies, Informatization, Management and Economics of Public Health (RNPT MT), 220013 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Marta Vasylyev
- Astar Medical Center, 79054 Lviv, Ukraine
- Internal Medicine Department, Erasmus MC, 2040 3000 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Antonija Verhaz
- Clinic for Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of the Republic of Srpska, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Nina Yancheva
- Department for AIDS, Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases—Sofia, Medical University Sofia, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Oleg Yurin
- Department of AIDS, Epidemiology and Prevention, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Federal AIDS Centre, 111123 Moscow, Russia
| | - Justyna Kowalska
- Department of Adults’ Infectious Diseases, Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-201 Warsaw, Poland
- HIV Out-Patient Clinic, Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-201 Warsaw, Poland
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Gökengin D. HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Central and Eastern Europe-Gains and Challenges in An Ever-Changing World. Infect Dis Clin Microbiol 2022; 4:223-228. [PMID: 38633717 PMCID: PMC10986726 DOI: 10.36519/idcm.2022.199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective prevention tool for controlling the HIV epidemic. Since its approval in the United States in 2012 and Europe in 2016, it has become available on a global scale offered as a registered strategy in clinical studies or demonstration projects with a slow and steady increase. In the second quarter of 2022, PrEP became available in 78 countries globally, with around 3 million people having started using PrEP. Europe has been much slower than the rest of the world to roll out PrEP; nevertheless, currently, PrEP is nationally available and reimbursed in 21 countries; generics are available but not reimbursed in 14 countries. PrEP is not formally implemented in 20 countries, which are mostly Central and Eastern European countries. There are significant disparities between countries in terms of PrEP availability, accessibility, and usage, most likely due to social, cultural, and political differences. The major barriers to PrEP use are reported to be lack of knowledge of people in need, not being reimbursed, and low perception of HIV. PrEP uptake globally and regionally still lacks the power to have an impact on controlling the epidemic. High prioritization of PrEP targets will offer us a realistic chance of reaching the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goal of a 90% reduction in HIV infections by 2030 compared to 2010.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Gökengin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ege University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
- Ege University HIV/AIDS Research and Practice Center, İzmir, Turkey
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Gričar S, Bojnec Š. Did Human Microbes Affect Tourist Arrivals before the COVID-19 Shock? Pre-Effect Forecasting Model for Slovenia. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:13482. [PMID: 36294060 PMCID: PMC9603530 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, with a substantial decline in tourist arrivals slightly before the time of COVID-19, the innovative econometric approach predicted possible responses between the spread of human microbes (bacteria/viruses) and tourist arrivals. The article developed a conceptually tested econometric model for predicting an exogenous shock on tourist arrivals driven by the spread of disease using a time series approach. The reworked study is based on an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to avoid spurious results. The periods of robust empirical study were obtained from the data vectors i) from January 2008 to December 2018 and ii) from January 2008 to December 2020. The data were obtained from the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. The ARIMA model predicted the number of declines in tourist arrivals for the approaching periods due to the spread of viruses. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, pre-pandemic results confirmed a one-fifth drop in tourist arrivals in the medium term. In the short term, the decline could be more than three-quarters. A further shock can be caused by forecasted bacterial infections; less likely to reduce tourist demand in the long term. The results can improve the evidence for public health demand in risk reduction for tourists as possible patients. The data from the NIPH are crucial for monitoring public health and tourism management as a base for predictions of unknown events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergej Gričar
- Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, University of Novo Mesto, Na Loko 2, 8000 Novo Mesto, Slovenia
| | - Štefan Bojnec
- Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Izolska Vrata 2, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
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Nazli A, Garner A, Gokengin D. Awareness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men using apps for sexual encounters in Turkiye. Int J STD AIDS 2022; 33:1124-1133. [DOI: 10.1177/09564624221126867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background New HIV diagnoses are rising in Turkiye. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are estimated to be the main driver of the epidemic. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was proven to be effective in reducing new HIV diagnoses and PrEP recently became available in Turkiye. Objective To assess awareness of and willingness to use PrEP and the level of off-licence use among MSM. Methods An anonymous self-completed questionnaire was sent out over the Hornet Gay Social Network from December 2019 to February 2020, available in Turkish and Arabic. It included 20 questions on HIV and STI testing, PrEP awareness, PrEP use, willingness to use, chemsex and sexual happiness level. Results Overall 4761 respondents who responded to more than 1/3 of the questions were eligible for analyses; 5.5% was Arabic speaking. The mean age was 30.5 years, 31.4% had never tested for HIV, 40.5% knew what PrEP was, the most common source of knowledge was the internet (44.5%), 2.5% (120) had used PrEP in the last 12 months and 1.7% (83) was current users. PrEP users had accessed drugs over the internet (47.6%), pharmacy (23%), and friends (13.8%). Almost 40% were willing to use PrEP in the following 6 months. Younger and Arabic speaking respondents had lower rates of HIV testing ( p = .001) and lower awareness for PrEP than comparators ( p = .004). Conclusion Awareness and willingness to use PrEP is high among MSM in Turkiye. The recent availability of PrEP in the country is a big step forward in terms of prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arzu Nazli
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Alex Garner
- Mpact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights, California, US
| | - Deniz Gokengin
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
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Vasylyev M, Skrzat-Klapaczyńska A, Bernardino JI, Săndulescu O, Gilles C, Libois A, Curran A, Spinner CD, Rowley D, Bickel M, Aichelburg MC, Nozza S, Wensing A, Barber TJ, Waters L, Jordans C, Bramer W, Lakatos B, Tovba L, Koval T, Kyrychenko T, Dumchev K, Buhiichyk V, Smyrnov P, Antoniak S, Antoniak S, Vasylyeva TI, Mazhnaya A, Kowalska J, Bhagani S, Rokx C. Unified European support framework to sustain the HIV cascade of care for people living with HIV including in displaced populations of war-struck Ukraine. The Lancet HIV 2022; 9:e438-e448. [DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(22)00125-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Gaskins M, Sammons MK, Kutscha F, Nast A, Werner RN. Factors that motivate men who have sex with men in Berlin, Germany, to use or consider using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis-A multi-methods analysis of data from a multicentre survey. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260168. [PMID: 34793575 PMCID: PMC8601504 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While our knowledge of what motivates men who have sex with men (MSM) to use HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has grown in recent years, quantitative survey-based studies have not asked MSM explicitly to name their motivations. We did so using a qualitative open-ended question and aimed to categorise the responses and explore whether these were related to where MSM were located along a conceptual continuum of PrEP care. METHODS In a multicentre survey examining knowledge and use of PrEP among MSM in Berlin, Germany, we additionally asked an open-ended question about motivations for using or considering PrEP. Data were collected from 10/2017-04/2018. One researcher developed a thematic framework deductively from the literature and another did so inductively from the free-text data, and a merged framework was used to code responses independently. We used Fisher's exact test to assess whether the frequency of motivations differed significantly between respondents using or considering PrEP. RESULTS Of 875 questionnaires, 473 were returned and 228 contained a free-text response. Motivations in the following categories were reported: (1) Safety/protection against HIV (80.2% of participants, including general safety; additional protection to condoms), (2) Mental well-being and quality of life (23.5%, including reduced anxiety; better quality of life), (3) Condom attitudes (18.9% intent not to use condoms), (4) Expectations about sexuality (14.4%, including worry-free sex or more pleasurable sex, with explicit mention of sex or sexuality), (5) Norms/social perspectives (0.8%). The difference in frequencies of motivations between those using or considering PrEP was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Safety and protection against HIV, particularly having additional protection if condoms fail, were the most common motivations for using or considering PrEP, followed by mental well-being and quality of life. Many respondents reported several motivations, and responses overall were heterogeneous. This suggests that approaches to increase PrEP uptake that focus exclusively on its effectiveness in preventing HIV are unlikely to be as successful as a holistic approach that emphasises multiple motivations and how these fit into the broader sexual and psychological health of MSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Gaskins
- Division of Evidence-Based Medicine (dEBM), Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mary Katherine Sammons
- Division of Evidence-Based Medicine (dEBM), Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Kutscha
- Division of Evidence-Based Medicine (dEBM), Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Nast
- Division of Evidence-Based Medicine (dEBM), Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ricardo Niklas Werner
- Division of Evidence-Based Medicine (dEBM), Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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