A best–worst scaling in Colombian patients to rank the characteristics of HIV/AIDS treatment

Figures & data

Figure 1. English version of an example question.

Table 1. Patients’ characteristics.

General characteristics	n (%) or mean ± SD
Age	Mean: 37.2 ± 11.2
Sex	160 (82%) male
Marital status	96 (49%) single
Children	132 (68%) without children
Level of schooling	99 (51%) completed higher education
Employment status	148 (76%) employed
Source of HIV infection	103 (53%) homosexual contact
Sexual partners	119 (61%) six or more partners
Sex for money or gifts (giving and/or receiving)	43 (22%) yes
Alcohol consumption	166 (85%) consumes alcohol
Travelled and slept outside of own house in the last year	148 (76%) yes
Other STD than AIDS in the past year?	43 (22%) yes
Exposed to domestic violence?	10 (5%) yes
Stage of AIDS	109 (56%) stage I
Number of years under HIV/AIDS treatment	Mean: 6.6 ± 6.4
Number of times tested before being diagnosed	Mean: 1.7 ± 1.6
Had diagnostic test during the past year?	99 (51%) yes

Table 2. Group average relative importance score per HIV/AIDS treatment characteristic.

Characteristic	RIS (95% CI)	Raw scores (95% CI)
Drug has very high efficacy	10.1 (9.7; 10.4)	2.5 (2.3; 2.6)
Maximum prolongation of life expectancy	9.7 (9.3; 10.1)	2.5 (2.3; 2.7)
Long duration of efficacy	7.4 (7.0; 7.8)	1.5 (1.4; 1.7)
Drug improves physical state	6.0 (5.6; 6.4)	1.0 (0.8; 1.1)
Drug does not generate resistance	5.4 (5.0; 5.7)	0.8 (0.7; 0.9)
Emotional and mental state improved	5.3 (4.9; 5.8)	0.7 (0.6; 0.9)
Dosing of drug may vary	4.9 (4.5; 5.3)	0.6 (0.4; 0.7)
Once daily application	4.5 (4.0; 4.9)	0.3 (0.1; 0.5)
Drug allows further therapy options	4.4 (4.0; 4.7)	0.4 (0.3; 0.6)
Drug can be taken along without problems	3.9 (3.5; 4.4)	0.0 (–0.2; 0.2)
Drug does not affect appearance	3.7(3.2; 4.1)	–0.2 (–0.4; 0.0)
Long-term use of the drug is possible	3.5 (3.2; 3.7)	0.1 (0.0; 0.2)
Can be used also in the case of comorbidities	3.4 (3.1; 3.7)	0.0 (–0.2; 0.1)
Pregnancy allowed	3.2 (2.9; 3.5)	–0.1 (–0.2; 0.0)
Simple application: only few tablets	3.1 (2.8; 3.4)	–0.2 (–0.4; –0.1)
Long-term (hidden) side-effects unlikely	2.9 (2.6; 3.2)	–0.2 (–0.4; –0.1)
Drug does not cause additional costs	2.6 (2.2; 3.1)	–1.1 (–1.3; –0.8)
Drug allows improved mobility	2.6 (2.4; 2.9)	–0.4 (–0.5; –0.2)
Flexible application	2.2 (2.0; 2.4)	–0.6 (–0.7; –0.5)
Social contact opportunities improved	2.0 (1.7; 2.3)	–1.0 (–1.2; –0.8)
Treatment does not require much time	2.0 (1.8; 2.1)	–0.6 (–0.7; –0.5)
Self-application of the drug is possible	1.8 (1.7; 2.0)	–0.8 (–0.9; –0.7)
Therapy-free intervals possible	1.8 (1.6; 2.0)	–0.8 (–0.9; –0.7)
Inconspicuous drug intake	1.7 (1.5; 1.9)	–0.9 (–1.0; –0.8)
Rarely occurring diarrhea	1.2 (1.0; 1.3)	–1.6 (–1.7; –1.4)
Rarely occurring nausea	0.9 (0.7; 1.0)	–1.9 (–2.0; –1.7)

A higher score signifies higher importance. The raw scores are positive or negative weights that are zero-centered.

Abbreviations. RIS, relative importance score; CI, confidence interval.

Figure 2. Graphic representation of the group average relative importance score per HIV/AIDS treatment characteristic. Characteristics were classified according to RIS. The following categories were used based on overall pattern: RIS >6; 4 < RIS <6, 2.5 < RIS <4; 1.5 < RIS <2.5, and <1.5.

Figure 3. Sub-group analysis on the attributes’ relative importance score according to age: younger (< 36 years) vs older (36 ≥ years) patients.