The EMIS project
The European MSM Internet survey (EMIS)
Current News:
The EMIS questionnaire has been available online between June 4 and August 31, 2010.
It was promoted online and offline through media for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Following the slogan "Be part of something huge!", more than 180,000 MSM living in Europe, and more than 160,000 MSM living in the 27 EU member states have completed the questionniare.
EMIS is thus the largest international study ever conducted on homosexually active men. This strong response to a 20‐30 minute survey demonstrates both a highly acceptable instrument and high community engagement. Neither would have been possible without the participation and support of local, national, and international LGBT organizations, as well as pan‐European gay‐organised social online‐networks like GayRomeo and Manhunt.
Map of participating countries.
Background:
Surveys of sexual behaviour and prevention needs among men who have sex with men (MSM) have mainly been conducted on national levels. Due to different sampling methods (particularly Internet‐based vs. venue‐based), and because of similar, but not identical questions, a harmonisation of indicators is needed, e.g. to allow reporting of comparable data to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In the last decade,
MSM social networking and other websites have been shown to be (cost‐)effective and valid means for recruitment of respondents, and are thus increasingly used for surveying MSM in particular.
Description:
The European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS) is a joint project of academic, governmental, and non‐governmental partners from 33 countries in Europe (EU and neighbouring countries) to simultaneously run an online questionnaire in 25 different languages: български език, Čeština, Dansk, Deutsch, Eesti keel, Ελληνικά, English, Español, Français, Italiano, Latviešu valodam, Lietuvių kalba, Magyar nyelv, Nederlands, Norsk, Polski, Português, Română, Pусский язык, Slovenščina, Srpski, Svenska, Suomi, Türkçe, Yкраї́нська мо́ва.
Scientists who already have experience of Internet‐based surveys for MSM, scientists who so far only have experience with print questionnaires, and activists from community‐based NGOs have jointly prepared and pre‐tested a pan‐European questionnaire that was launched on June 4, 2010.
EMIS is designed to collect self‐reported data from MSM across Europe. This data can be used to be included in national follow‐up surveys for behavioural surveillance, but also for cross‐sectional analyses – comparing different groups of MSM, comparing different countries or regions, etc.
EMIS is the first study in which a direct comparison of data on homosexuality, homosexual behaviour, and STIs among 33‐40 countries can be undertaken. For some of the participating countries, it will generate the first empirical data on homosexuality.
EMIS results will inform the planning of prevention interventions for MSM by identifying prevention needs commonly unmet across MSM (priority aims), and subgroups of MSM who have many prevention needs poorly met (priority target groups).
EMIS is co‐funded by a grant of the European Union (EU Health Programme 2008‐2013).
Research questions and covered items:
The EMIS questionnaire is structured by four questions (research priorities):
- What are the levels and distributions of sexual HIV/STI exposure and transmission facilitators?
- What are the levels and distributions of unmet (prevention) needs of MSM?
- What is the population coverage / what are the biases of prevention interventions?
- What information is needed to compare samples and target interventions?
As to research priority number one, the EMIS questionnaire covers all six core indicators (#1-6) and nine of ten population‐specific indicators for MSM (#7-15) that have recently been suggested by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
- Numbers of sex partners in the last 12 months
- Use of condom at last (anal) intercourse, separate for steady vs. non‐steady partners
- Tested for HIV, ever and in the last 12 months; year and result of the last test
- Having paid for sex in the last 12 months; use of condoms at last paid intercourse
- Level of education (ISCED); nationality/‘origin’, sexual orientation (Kinsey modified classification)
- Knowledge (identify ways of preventing sexual HIV transmission, reject major misconceptions)
- Age at 1st sex
- Recent STIs
- Condom use with different types of partners
- Exposure to risk (last 12 months)
- Recency and result of hepatitis C test
- Types of drugs consumed
- Proportion on treatment
- (Detectable or undetectable) viral load
- CD4 count (at diagnosis)
To balance questions on behavioural surveillance with items needed for prevention planning, including needs for policy and structural interventions, EMIS includes the following question areas needed to cover priorities two and three above:
- Knowledge (transmission, risks, non‐risk, safe condom use, PEP)
- Poblems related to drinking habits and recreational drug use, types of drugs and recency of drug use
- Barriers to early treatment
- HIV‐related discrimination
- Anti‐gay violence / Homophobia
- Access to gay‐specific information
- Access to condoms
- Access to testing (HIV/STI)
- Used HIV/STI testing sites, service performance regarding MSM
- Relationships / Loneliness
The complete English questionnaire is available for download in the publications area.
Results:
First results can be excepted by November 2010 on this page (publications area). They will be updated regularly. The final report can be expected to be published in September 2011. For non-English versions please check the respective national partners' websites.
Contact: EMIS@rki.de
