scholarly journals Preferences for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men and transgender women at risk of HIV infection: a multicentre protocol for a discrete choice experiment in Brazil

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e049011
Author(s):  
Claudia Cristina de Aguiar Pereira ◽  
Thiago Silva Torres ◽  
Paula Mendes Luz ◽  
Brenda Hoagland ◽  
Alessandro Farias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Discrete Choice Experiment ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Choice Tasks

IntroductionPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an important and well-established prevention strategy for sexual acquisition of HIV. In Brazil, transgender women (TGW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) bear the largest burden among key populations. Little is known about preferences for PrEP characteristics in these vulnerable populations in Latin America. The goal of this study is to investigate preferences of TGW and MSM with respect to PrEP characteristics, whether current user or not, and to assess any attributes and levels that may improve the decision to start using PrEP (uptake) and optimal continuity of use (adherence), which are important dimensions for PrEP success.Methods and analysisWe hereby outline the protocol of a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to be conducted among TGW and MSM in Brazil. The study will be carried out in two phases. The first phase involves literature review and qualitative approaches including in-depth interviews to inform the development of the DCE (attributes and levels). The second phase entails the DCE survey and supporting questions pertaining to sociodemographic and risk behaviour information. The survey is aimed at current PrEP users and non-users, consisting of two modes of administration: face to face in five Brazilian capitals (Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Manaus, Porto Alegre and Salvador) and online targeting the entire country. A D-efficient zero-prior blocked experimental design will be used to select 60 paired-profile DCE choice tasks, in which participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups and presented with a set of 15 choice tasks. The planned sample size is 1000 volunteers.Ethics, timeline and disseminationThe study was approved by Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa—Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas—INI/FIOCRUZ, CEP/INI, CAAE 28416220.2.1001.5262, approval number 3.979.759 in accordance with the Comissão Nacional de Ética em Pesquisa (CONEP—Brazilian National Board of Research Ethics). The study will be conducted between 2020 and 2021. The results will be disseminated to the scientific community and to the public in general through publications in published in peer-reviewed journals and in scientific conferences.

scholarly journals Designing a brief behaviour change intervention to reduce sexually transmitted infections: a discrete choice experiment

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 851-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alec Miners ◽  
Carrie Llewellyn ◽  
Carina King ◽  
Alex Pollard ◽  
Anupama Roy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Discrete Choice Experiment ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Behaviour Change Intervention ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Sex With Men

To understand whether people attending sexual health (SH) clinics are willing to participate in a brief behavioural change intervention (BBCI) to reduce the likelihood of future sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to understand their preferences for different service designs, we conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) with young heterosexual adults (aged 16–25 years), and men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 16 or above, attending SH clinics in England. Data from 368 participants showed that people particularly valued BBCIs that involved talking (OR 1.45; 95%CI 1.35, 1.57 compared with an ‘email or text’-based BBCIs), preferably with a health care professional rather than a peer. Findings also showed that 26% of respondents preferred ‘email/texts’ to all other options; the remaining 14% preferred not to participate in any of the offered BBCIs. These results suggest that most people attending SH clinics in England are likely to participate in a BBCI if offered, but the type/format of the BBCI is likely to be the single important determinant of uptake rather than characteristics such as the length and the number of sessions. Moreover, participants generally favoured ‘talking’-based options rather than digital alternatives, which are likely to require the most resources to implement.

scholarly journals Product attributes important to US adult consumers’ use of electronic nicotine delivery systems: a discrete choice experiment

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e027247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine E Kistler ◽  
Leah M Ranney ◽  
Erin L Sutfin ◽  
Keith Chrzan ◽  
Christopher J Wretman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Discrete Choice Experiment ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Delivery Systems ◽  
Product Attributes ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems ◽  
Nicotine Delivery ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Choice Tasks

ObjectiveTo understand the importance of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) product attributes to adult consumers in the USA by age and gender.DesignCross-sectional survey with a discrete choice experiment (best–worst, case 2, scaling) of 19 choice tasks in which participants answered what would make them most want to use and least want to use an ENDS product.Setting and participantsA national sample of adults (aged 18+ years) in the USA who had tried an ENDS product at least once.MeasuresWe included 9 ENDS attributes with levels that varied across 19 choice tasks. We performed a multinomial logistic regression to obtain overall importance scores, attribute-level part-worth utilities and most important attribute.ResultsOf 660 participants, 81% were white, 51% women and 37% had at least a 4-year college degree with an average age of 42.0 years (SD ±19.4). The attributes had the following importance: harms of use 17.6%; general effects 14.1%; cessation aid 12.6%; purchase price 12.1%; monthly cost 12.0%; nicotine content 11.4%; flavour availability 8.4%; device design 7.2%; modifiability 4.6%. Harms of use was the most important attribute for all ages and genders (p<0.05); variation in other important attributes existed by age though not by gender.ConclusionThis study identified the importance of nine ENDS attributes. Perceived harms of use of ENDS use appeared most important, and modifiability was least important. Variation by consumer group existed, which may allow for targeted interventions to modify ENDS use.

scholarly journals “I wish to remain HIV negative”: Pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence and persistence in transgender women and men who have sex with men in coastal Kenya

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0244226
Author(s):  
Makobu Kimani ◽  
Elise M. van der Elst ◽  
Oscar Chirro ◽  
Elizabeth Wahome ◽  
Fauz Ibrahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Background Transgender women (TGW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa have high HIV acquisition risks and can benefit from daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We assessed PrEP adherence by measuring tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels and explore motives for PrEP persistence in TGW and MSM. Methods Participants were enrolled in a one-year PrEP programme and made quarterly visits irrespective of whether they were still using PrEP. At their month 6 visit, participants provided a dried blood spot to test for TFV-DP levels; protective levels were defined as those compatible with ≥4 pills per week (700–1249 fmol/punch). Before TFV-DP levels were available, a sub-set of these participants were invited for an in-depth interview (IDI). Semi-structured IDI topic guides were used to explore motives to uptake, adhere to, and discontinue PrEP. IDI data were analyzed thematically. Results Fifty-three participants (42 MSM and 11 TGW) were enrolled. At month 6, 11 (20.7%) participants (8 MSM and 3 TGW) were lost to follow up or stopped taking PrEP. Any TFV-DP was detected in 62.5% (5/8) of TGW vs. 14.7% of MSM (5/34, p = 0.01). Protective levels were detected in 37.5% of TGW (3/8), but not in any MSM. Nineteen IDI were conducted with 7 TGW and 9 MSM on PrEP, and 1 TGW and 2 MSM off PrEP. Unplanned or frequent risky sexual risk behaviour were the main motives for PrEP uptake. Among participants on PrEP, TGW had a more complete understanding of the benefits of PrEP. Inconsistent PrEP use was attributed to situational factors. Motives to discontinue PrEP included negative reactions from partners and stigmatizing healthcare services. Conclusion While MSM evinced greater adherence challenges in this PrEP programme, almost 40% of TGW were protected by PrEP. Given high HIV incidences in TGW these findings hold promise for TGW PrEP programming in the region.

scholarly journals Public Preferences for Social Distancing Behaviors to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19: A Discrete Choice Experiment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Eshun Wilson ◽  
Aaloke Mody ◽  
Ginger McKay ◽  
Mati Hlatshwayo ◽  
Cory Bradley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Discrete Choice Experiment ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Latent Class Models ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Sampling Weights ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Public

AbstractPolicies to promote social distancing can minimize COVID-19 transmission, but come with substantial social and economic costs. Quantifying relative preferences of the public for such practices can inform policy prioritization and optimize uptake. We used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to quantify relative “utilities” (preferences) for five COVID-19 pandemic social distances strategies (e.g., closure of restaurants, restriction of large gatherings) against the hypothetical risk of acquiring COVID-19 and anticipated income loss. The survey was distributed in Missouri in May-June, 2020. We applied inverse probability sampling weights to mixed logit and latent class models to generate mean preferences and identify preference classes. Overall (n=2,428), the strongest preference was for the prohibition of large gatherings, followed by preferences to keep outdoor venues, schools, and social and lifestyle venues open, 75% of the population showing probable support for a strategy that prohibited large gatherings and closed lifestyle and social venues. Latent class analysis, however revealed four preference sub-groups in the population - “risk eliminators”, “risk balancers”, “altruistic” and “risk takers”, with men twice as likely as women to belong to the risk-taking group. In this setting, public health policies which as a first phase prohibit large gatherings, as well as close social and lifestyle venues may be acceptable and adhered to by the public. In addition, policy messages that address preference heterogeneity, for example by targeting public health messages at men, could improve adherence to social distancing measures and prevent further COVID-19 transmission prior to vaccine distribution and in the event of future pandemics.Significance StatementPreferences drive behavior – DCE’s are a novel tool in public health that allow examination of preferences for a product, service or policy, identifying how the public prioritizes personal risks and cost in relation to health behaviors. Using this method to establish preferences for COVID-19 mitigation strategies, our results suggest that, firstly, a tiered approach to non-essential business closures where large gatherings are prohibited and social and lifestyle venues are closed as a first phase, would be well aligned with population preferences and may be supported by the public, while school and outdoor venue closures may require more consideration prior to a second phase of restrictions. And secondly, that important distinct preference phenotypes - that are not captured by sociodemographic (e.g., age, sex, race) characteristics - exist, and therefore that messaging should be target at such subgroups to enhance adherence to prevention efforts.

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