Article publication as co-author

Being a co-author on this article has been a valuable experience in my journey as a PhD student. It allowed me to gain a better understanding of the different roles that researchers can have in the process of creating a scientific paper. In this instance, I contributed by reviewing and sharing my insights on the work. Due to my research involvement in the field of alcohol consumption, participating in this study has allowed me to learn about other risk factors related to the consumption of this substance. This has allowed me to broaden my knowledge about this health behavior in my study population, adolescents. Also, I have gained significant expertise in data analysis, particularly in the application of Poisson regression models to examine health risk factors. Through this study, I have also enhanced my skills in interpreting epidemiological data and translating findings into actionable recommendations for prevention programs.

González-Casals H, Espelt A, Bosque-Prous M, Rogés J, Robles-Muñoz M, Colom J, et al. Sex differences in alcohol and other substance use in sexual contexts among adolescents: an observational study. Sex Health. 2025;22:SH24153.

Article under writing

During the elaboration of this scientific article I have been able to see how to carry out each one of the steps to do qualitative research (bibliographic review, explanation of the methodology, analysis of data, result explanation, comparison of the results obtained with the available literature, etc.). This is also my first experience conducting a qualitative data collection and analysis process, which has presented both methodological and interpretative challenges. The mixed-method study combines the integration of qualitative and quantitative data, providing a new approach to data interpretation. Understanding the perceptions of young people about the factors that motivate the consumption of alcohol has allowed me to deepen the theme of my doctoral thesis, and to understand from the qualitative side the data that I have been collecting at the quantitative level in the other proposed research. On the other hand, it has also allowed me to understand the process of publication (peer review) and how to approach the editors and reviewers of scientific journals. It has also allowed me to establish criteria for choosing scientific journals to publish in.

Article pending to submission 

We are waiting to have the approval of the submited article to start the review and publication process.

We are currently submitting the final version of the manuscript to journals in the field with the aim of publishing the article in the coming months. We are waiting for the last journal where we have submitted it (JAMA Pediatrics in March 2025) to give us the approval to review the article and start the review and publication process. This study has allowed me to go a step further in understanding how adolescent consumption patterns fluctuated in the wake of covid19. this emphasizes the relationship between leisure contexts and substance consumption, and highlights the importance of designing and implementing public health actions to address this risk behavior among the youth population. During the elaboration of this scientific article  on one hand, I have been able to see how to carry out each one of the steps to do research (bibliographic review, explanation of the methodology, analysis of data, result explanation, comparison of the results obtained with the available literature, etc.). On the other hand, it has also allowed me to understand the process of publication (peer review) and how to approach the editors and reviewers of scientific journals. It has also allowed me to establish criteria for choosing scientific journals to publish in.

Presenting my research in poster format at the Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol Research Retreat was a valuable learning experience during my PhD. One of the biggest challenges was synthesizing and summarizing key findings while ensuring the information was presented in a clear, visually engaging, and accessible way. Unlike oral presentations, a poster requires a concise yet impactful approach to communicate complex results effectively. Beyond the presentation itself, participating in this retreat provided a unique opportunity for networking within my institution. I had the chance to meet other researchers, learn about the diverse projects being conducted, and engage in informal discussions about my work. The retreat fostered a collaborative and relaxed environment, allowing for insightful feedback and new perspectives that will help shape the next steps of my research.

Reference: González-Casals H, Espelt A, Bosque-Prous M, Rogés J, Robles-Muñoz M, Colom J, Casabona J, Belza MJ, Folch C. Sex differences in alcohol and drug use in sexual contexts among sexually active adolescents: an observational study. Retreat de Recerca de l’Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol; 2024 Dec 4; Badalona, Catalunya, España. Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol.

Date: December 4th, 2024

Place: Institut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalunya, Espanya