The international, collaborative nature of the KIDSCREEN project means it is likely to provide many challenges in terms of producing an instrument which is conceptually and linguistically appropriate for use in many different countries, but it will also provide the opportunity to develop, test and implement the first truly cross-national HRQOL instrument developed for use in children and adolescents. This will help to contribute to a better understanding of perceived health in children and adolescents and to identify populations at risk.

This article presents the major results of a Concerted Action of the European Community on "Assessing AIDS-prevention" concerning the male homo- and bisexual population. It discusses the methodologies and results of research projects undertaken in this area in the 1980's.