INTRODUCTION:Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or non-binary and intersex (LGBTI) populations experience persistent health inequities, including poorer mental and physical health outcomes and higher unmet healthcare needs compared with non-LGBTI populations. These inequities are partly attributable to insufficient training of primary care physicians (PCPs) in LGBTI health. However, evidence on effective and scalable training interventions for PCPs remains limited, particularly outside North America. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a self-directed e-learning programme-Improving Care and Access for Rainbow Equity (I-CARE)-designed to improve PCPs' knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviours related to LGBTI health. METHODS AND ANALYSIS:We will conduct a type I effectiveness-implementation hybrid, two-arm, parallel-group, superiority randomised controlled trial among PCPs practising in French-speaking Switzerland. Eligible physicians will be randomly assigned (1:1) to either the I-CARE programme (intervention) or an e-learning programme on motivational interviewing (control) matched for format and duration. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediately postintervention and at the 3-month follow-up. The primary outcomes are knowledge and attitudes towards LGBTI patients assessed at the postintervention time point using validated scales. Superiority will be declared if the intervention group is statistically significantly superior to the control group on at least one primary outcome and statistically significantly inferior on neither primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include skills, self-reported behaviours and the presence of LGBTI-inclusive environmental cues. Effectiveness will be analysed using generalised estimating equations. Implementation outcomes will be evaluated using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:Participants will provide electronic informed consent. All study data will be managed and stored on secure servers hosted by the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). All information will be handled in strict accordance with the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection. The project was approved by the Central Ethics Commission of the University of Lausanne on 7 July 2025 (C_Services centraux_052025_00018). Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific publications and lay summaries intended for the public, Swiss PCPs and LGBTI communities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:ISRCTN93781961 (11 March 2026, updated 14 July 2026).

Transgender people are at risk of being in worse health than the cisgender population. On the one hand, they encounter specific health problems, mostly related to the impact of minority stress on their mental and somatic health. On the other hand, the preventive recommendations usually do not account for gender-affirming hormonal or surgical treatments that can alter their biologic or anatomic risk profile. The health of transgender people is an area in which research is yet sparse, professionals seldom trained, and where uncertainty remains. The aim of this review article is to summarize the current state of knowledge and propose recommendations for clinical practice.

A sedentary lifestyle is a significant cardiovascular risk factor and increases premature mortality. Engaging in routine physical activity (PA) provides a wide range of health benefits. Accordingly, physical inactivity must be identified and sedentary patients supported systematically to achieve recommended levels of PA. The level of PA can be assessed by taking patients' history and using specific tools. Support begins by assessing PA contraindications and patients' level of motivation to change their lifestyle. Patients are then encouraged to adopt a more active lifestyle through tailored advice, and if necessary, referred to specialists with expertise in exercise medicine. This article details the key aspects of accompanying sedentary patients, to help healthcare professionals integrate them into their practice.

Transgender people are at risk of being in worse health than the cisgender population. On the one hand, they encounter specific health problems, mostly related to the impact of minority stress on their mental and somatic health. On the other hand, the preventive recommendations usually do not account for gender-affirming hormonal or surgical treatments that can alter their biologic or anatomic risk profile. The health of transgender people is an area in which research is yet sparse, professionals seldom trained, and where uncertainty remains. The aim of this review article is to summarize the current state of knowledge and propose recommendations for clinical practice.

A sedentary lifestyle is a significant cardiovascular risk factor and increases premature mortality. Engaging in routine physical activity (PA) provides a wide range of health benefits. Accordingly, physical inactivity must be identified and sedentary patients supported systematically to achieve recommended levels of PA. The level of PA can be assessed by taking patients' history and using specific tools. Support begins by assessing PA contraindications and patients' level of motivation to change their lifestyle. Patients are then encouraged to adopt a more active lifestyle through tailored advice, and if necessary, referred to specialists with expertise in exercise medicine. This article details the key aspects of accompanying sedentary patients, to help healthcare professionals integrate them into their practice.

While several recent studies suggest that approximately 1 in 6 young people in Switzerland are part of the rainbow diversity, a high proportion of health professionals have never had a course on LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning or other) health. This situation leads to significant gaps in the medical care of LGBTIQ+ persons as well as difficulties in accessing equitable, culturally appropriate and quality care. This article presents the ambitious and novel e-learning project I-CARE (Improving Care and Access for Rainbow Equity) which should contribute, from the end of this year, to filling the current gaps in the undergraduate and continuing education of health professionals.

Abstract Background Diabetes represents a major health burden both at the individual and societal levels. Physical activity is always recommended to reduce the incidence of diabetes and its complications, but its effects on self-reported health are lacking. This study aimed to explore how physical activity and sedentary behaviors were associated with self-reported health in individuals with diabetes and to compare them to individuals from the general population. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2019 follow-up survey of a Swiss cohort of individuals with diabetes (CoDiab-VD; n=649) and the 2017 Swiss Health Survey (SHS; n=21’430). We assessed the association between self-reported health and three exposure variables (physical activity and sedentary behaviors operationalized as sitting time and sitting interruption) with three crude and three adjusted ordinal logistic regression models for two groups of individuals with diabetes (CoDiab-VD,SHS) and the general population (SHS). Results Individuals with diabetes were less active and more sedentary than those of the general population. A significant association between higher physical activity levels and better self-reported health was observed, for both individuals with diabetes and the general population. A more sedentary behavior, defined by a longer sitting time, seemed to be associated, with poorer self-reported health only in CoDiab-VD population. Conclusions Physical activity is strongly associated with better self-reported health, and sedentary behaviors tend to have a negative association. Sedentary behaviors should be considered when planning lifestyle interventions due to their effect on self-reported health. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01902043

While several recent studies suggest that approximately 1 in 6 young people in Switzerland are part of the rainbow diversity, a high proportion of health professionals have never had a course on LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning or other) health. This situation leads to significant gaps in the medical care of LGBTIQ+ persons as well as difficulties in accessing equitable, culturally appropriate and quality care. This article presents the ambitious and novel e-learning project I-CARE (Improving Care and Access for Rainbow Equity) which should contribute, from the end of this year, to filling the current gaps in the undergraduate and continuing education of health professionals.Alors que plusieurs études récentes suggèrent qu’environ 1 jeune sur 6 fait partie de la diversité arc-en-ciel en Suisse, une proportion élevée des professionnel-les de santé n’a jamais eu de cours sur la santé des personnes LGBTIQ+ (lesbiennes, gays, bisexuelles, transgenres, intersexuées, queers, en questionnement ou autres). Cette situation entraîne d’importantes lacunes dans la prise en charge médicale des personnes LGBTIQ+, ainsi qu’une difficulté d’accès à des soins équitables, culturellement appropriés et de qualité. Cet article présente l’ambitieux et inédit projet de formation par apprentissage en ligne I-CARE (Improving Care and Access for Rainbow Equity) qui devra contribuer, à partir de la fin de cette année, à combler les lacunes actuelles dans la formation prégraduée et continue des professionnel-les de santé.

OBJECTIVES:Our objective was to obtain long-term data on the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their association with behavioural factors after widespread pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation. METHODS:This was a time-to-event analysis of a national PrEP cohort in Switzerland (SwissPrEPared study). Participants were people without HIV interested in taking PrEP with at least two STI screening visits. Primary outcomes were incidence rate of gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis. The association between behavioural factors and STI diagnosis was expressed using hazard ratios. We adjusted for testing frequency and calendar year. RESULTS:This analysis included 3907 participants enrolled between April 2019 and April 2022, yielding 3815.7 person-years of follow-up for gonorrhoea (15 134 screenings), 3802.5 for chlamydia (15 141 screenings), and 3858.6 for syphilis (15 001 screenings). The median age was 39 years (interquartile range [IQR] 32-47), 93.8% (n = 3664) identified as men who have sex with men (MSM). The incidence was 22.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.3-24.4) per 100 person-years for gonorrhoea, 26.3 (95% CI 24.7-28.0) for chlamydia, and 4.4 (95% CI 3.8-5.1) for syphilis. Yearly incidence rates decreased between 2019 (all bacterial STIs: 81.6; 95% CI 59.1-109.9) and 2022 (all bacterial STIs: 49.8; 95% CI 44.6-55.3). Participants reporting chemsex substance use were at higher risk of incident STIs, as were those reporting multiple sexual partners. Younger age was associated with a higher risk of gonorrhoea and chlamydia. CONCLUSIONS:Incidence rates of bacterial STIs decreased over time. Young MSM, those with multiple partners, and those using chemsex substances were at increased risk of STIs.

This article reviews the PAPRICA (Physical Activity promotion in PRImary CAre) program fifteen years after the first training course in physical activity counseling for primary care physicians in French-speaking Switzerland. Subsequent developments are also presented, based on the PAPRICA experience. The article then looks at the national strategy for promoting physical activity in the medical practice, the issues involved in financing the services, and the situation in other comparable countries. The article concludes with a discussion of new challenges and future prospects for a program like PAPRICA.

The theme of health equity was for a long time absent or little addressed in the pre- and postgraduate teaching programs of universities and training university hospitals in Switzerland. This gap has gradually been filled by the development and provision of structured teaching on health equity, adapted to the needs of their target audiences. This article aims to highlight a selection of teachings that have emerged in recent years in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

The theme of health equity was for a long time absent or little addressed in the pre- and postgraduate teaching programs of universities and training university hospitals in Switzerland. This gap has gradually been filled by the development and provision of structured teaching on health equity, adapted to the needs of their target audiences. This article aims to highlight a selection of teachings that have emerged in recent years in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.La thématique de l’équité en santé a été pendant longtemps absente ou peu abordée dans les programmes d’enseignement pré et post-gradué des universités et établissements hospitaliers de formation en Suisse. Cette lacune a été progressivement comblée par le développement et la mise à disposition de formations structurées portant sur l’équité en santé, adaptées aux besoins de leurs publics cibles. Cet article vise à mettre en avant une sélection d’enseignements qui ont vu le jour ces dernières années en Suisse romande.

Repetitive screening in enterprises was one of the measures recommended in Switzerland in the fight against COVID-19. In the canton of Vaud, 70 companies participated in the program, 73 % of which were small and medium-sized enterprises. The SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 0.07 % out of 70'105 tests performed. The impossibility of teleworking and the reduction of transmission were the main motivations for joining the program. The facilitating elements were the availability of the Cantonal Medical Office, the existence of a starter kit and the support of the hierarchy within the companies. The main obstacles were the arrival of vaccination, the multiplicity of screening providers and the workload. The program was a pragmatic action tool for companies rather than a population-based strategy.Le dépistage en entreprise était une des mesures de lutte contre l’épidémie de Covid-19 promues par la Confédération. Dans le canton de Vaud, 70 entreprises ont participé au programme, dont 73 % de petites et moyennes entreprises. Le taux de positivité au SARS-CoV-2 a été de 0,07 % sur 70 105 tests réalisés. L’impossibilité du télétravail et la réduction de la transmission ont été les principales motivations d’adhésion. Les éléments facilitateurs ont été la disponibilité de l’Office du médecin cantonal, l’existence d’un starter kit et le soutien de la hiérarchie au sein des entreprises. Les freins principaux ont été l’arrivée de la vaccination, la multiplicité des prestataires de dépistage et la charge de travail. Le programme a représenté un outil d’action pragmatique pour les entreprises plutôt qu’une stratégie à visée populationnelle.

Background The mechanism underlying the health care cost trajectories among asylum seekers is not well understood. In the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, a nurse-led health care and medical Network for Migrant Health (“Réseau santé et migration” RESAMI) has established a health care model focusing on the first year after arrival of asylum seekers, called the “community health phase”. This model aims to provide tailored care and facilitate integration into the Swiss health care system. The aim of this study is to explore different health care cost trajectories among asylum seekers during this phase and identify the associated factors. Methods We detected different patterns of health care cost trajectories using time-series clustering of longitudinal data of asylum seekers in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. These data included all adult asylum seekers and recipients of emergency aid who entered the canton between 2012 and 2015 and were followed until 2018. The different clusters of health care cost trajectories were then described using a multinomial logistic regression model. Results We identified a concave, an upward trending, and a downward trending cluster of health care cost trajectories with different characteristics being associated with each cluster. The likelihood of being in the concave cluster is positively associated with coming from the Eastern Mediterranean region or Africa rather than Europe and with a higher share of consultations with an interpreter. The likelihood of being in the upward trending cluster, which accrued the highest costs, is positively associated with 20–24-year-olds rather than older individuals, coming from Europe than any other region and having a mental disorder. In contrast to the other two clusters, the likelihood of being in the downward trending cluster is positively associated with having contacted the RESAMI network within the first month after arrival, which might indicate the potential of early intervention. It is also positively associated with older age and living in a group lodge. Conclusions Asylum seekers are heterogeneous in terms of health care cost trajectories. Exploring these differences can help point to possible ways to improve the care and supporting services provided to asylum seekers. Our findings could indicate that early and patient-centered interventions might be well-suited to this aim.

BACKGROUND: Changes in mental and sexual health among men having sex with men (MSM) due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remain unclear. METHODS: Design: Longitudinal analysis of an ongoing, multicentre, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cohort (NCT03893188) in Switzerland. Participants: HIV-negative MSM aged ≥18 who completed at least one questionnaire before and one after the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Outcomes: Primary: mental health, defined as anxiety and depression scores assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Secondary: sexual behaviour, well-being, PrEP use and disruption of care. Outcomes were assessed over seven periods corresponding to different SARS-CoV-2 prevention measures in Switzerland. We performed pairwise comparisons between periods (Wilcoxon signed rank test). RESULTS: Data from 1,043 participants were included. Whilst anxiety scores remained stable over time, depression scores worsened in the second wave and the second lockdown period compared to pre-pandemic scores. This was confirmed by pairwise comparisons (pre-SARS-CoV-2/second wave and pre-SARS-CoV-2/second lockdown: p <0.001). Downward trends in sexual activity,sexualized substance use, and a switch from daily to "event-driven" PrEP were found. Disruption of care affected 42.6% (790/1856) of daily PrEP users’ follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: In this longitudinal analysis of a PrEP cohort enrolling MSM, depression scores worsened in the second wave and the second lockdown compared to the pre-pandemic period.

Repetitive screening in enterprises was one of the measures recommended in Switzerland in the fight against COVID-19. In the canton of Vaud, 70 companies participated in the program, 73 % of which were small and medium-sized enterprises. The SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 0.07 % out of 70'105 tests performed. The impossibility of teleworking and the reduction of transmission were the main motivations for joining the program. The facilitating elements were the availability of the Cantonal Medical Office, the existence of a starter kit and the support of the hierarchy within the companies. The main obstacles were the arrival of vaccination, the multiplicity of screening providers and the workload. The program was a pragmatic action tool for companies rather than a population-based strategy.

Alors que plus de 400 personnes sont encore infectées par le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) en Suisse chaque année, il est question d'une fin de l'épidémie de VIH parmi les spécialistes locaux ainsi que dans les plans stratégiques de la Commission fédérale pour les questions liées aux infections sexuellement transmissibles (CFIT) et de l'Office fédéral de la santé publique (OFSP).Nous tentons de donner un aperçu de la proximité de la fin de l'épidémie de VIH en Suisse, du rôle que joue la prophylaxie pré-exposition (PrEP) au VIH pour atteindre cet objectif, et de ce qu'est «SwissPrEPared».