title: [The Swiss HIV Cohort Study--multifaceted network supporting patient care as well as large international research projects].
abstract: The Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) integrates networks at several different levels. Initiated as a national collaboration of five University and a Cantonal hospital the SHCS currently also integrates numerous regional hospitals and specialized physicians in private practice. The standardized anonymous data collection allowed a variety of scientific projects--even beyond strictly medical domains such as psychosocial and legal aspects. Although the SHCS is one of the largest HIV cohorts worldwide some important medical questions cannot readily be answered without collaborating in international networks. These networks on different levels facilitate an efficient information exchange aimed at an optimal and standardized care of patients with HIV and AIDS in Switzerland.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Infektionskrankheiten, Klinik Im Park, Zürich.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flepp
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ledergerber
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019992:Databases as Topic; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology