Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38799691›Full record

Observational studyFrontiers in public health2024

Descriptive study on substance uses and risk of sexually transmitted infections in the practice of Chemsex in Spain.

Pablo Del Pozo-Herce, Enrique Baca-García, Antonio Martínez-Sabater, Elena Chover-Sierra, Vicente Gea-Caballero, Javier Curto-Ramos, Michal Czapla, Piotr Karniej, Jesús Martínez-Tofe, Mercedes Sánchez-Barba and 2 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Frontiers in public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Pablo Del Pozo-HerceDepartment of Psychiatry, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Enrique Baca-GarcíaDepartment of Psychiatry, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Antonio Martínez-SabaterNursing Department, Nursing Care and Education Research Group (GRIECE), Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Elena Chover-SierraNursing Department, Nursing Care and Education Research Group (GRIECE), Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Vicente Gea-CaballeroFaculty of Health Sciences, Research Group Community Health and Care, International University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Javier Curto-RamosDepartment of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Mental Health, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Michal CzaplaDepartment of Emergency Medical Service, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Piotr KarniejFaculty of Finance and Management, WSB University in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.
Jesús Martínez-TofeDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Research Group in Care, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain.
Mercedes Sánchez-BarbaDepartment of Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
Regina Ruiz de ViñaspreDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Research Group in Care, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain.
Raúl Juárez-VelaDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Research Group in Care, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: In recent years, there has been an increasing use of sex-related substances (known as "Chemsex") to facilitate, intensify, and prolong the sexual experience of men who have sex with men. This phenomenon poses a public health problem, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and mental disorders. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to delve into the correlation between substance use and sexual health, specifically examining the association between different substances used and the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the context of Chemsex in Spain. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 563 Spanish participants between January and April 2023. Non-probabilistic purposive sampling was used by the investigators. The researchers administered a questionnaire to men who have sex with men who use substances, especially in the sexual sphere, in all the autonomous communities of Spain. Results: 14.7% reported having practiced slamsex in the last year, and 17.94% were diagnosed with a Sexually Transmitted Infection in the previous 6 months. Of these, 21% were on PREP treatment, with the main STIs being gonorrhea ( Discussion: Chemsex in Spain is linked to a high prevalence of STIs, especially gonorrhea and chlamydia, even among those on PrEP treatment. The use of various drugs during chemsex, such as amyl nitrite, GHB, ecstasy, and others, correlates with higher rates of STIs, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce risk and harm. The drugs most associated with slamsex include ketamine, mephedrone, and methamphetamine, underscoring the importance of addressing the risk behaviors associated with this activity. Conclusion: This study shows that chemsex appears to be associated with a high prevalence among men who have sex with men. Who use multiple substances in a sexual context, and are particularly exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), indicating a particular need for STI prevention and care in this group.

Indexed as

Homosexuality, MaleSexually Transmitted DiseasesSubstance-Related DisordersAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsRisk-TakingSexual and Gender MinoritiesSexual BehaviorSpainSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultHIV infectionspre-exposure prophylaxissexual behaviorsexually transmitted infectionSTIssubstance use

Identifiers

PMID38799691
PMCPMC11121992

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.