Measuring Anticipated Attitudes and Behavior Towards a New Medical Treatment in Lesotho

Host trial: Uncertainty survey experiment

This study uses a survey experiment with a hypothetical scenario (vignette) to test the concept of uncertainty and the impact of partner involvement in a hypothetical new medical treatment in patients seeking healthcare in the Butha Buthe district hospital. Specifically, this host trial will be a single-blinded randomized survey experimental design. This means that there will be two versions of the vignette and participants will be randomly given only one version (1:1 allocation). The participants will not be made aware that there is a different version of the vignette but the researchers will be aware of which version the participant receives. The difference between the vignettes (called behavioral manipulation) is whether or not the partner endorses the hypothetical new medical treatment related to the patient's current illness. See the Study measures Section for the specific vignettes.

Study Within a Trial (SWAT): Impact of the researcher's attire on recruitment rates

Within the host trial, the nested study on researcher's attire will take place as a "Study Within A Trial" or SWAT. SWAT is an increasingly recognized method of research that aims to improve the research methodology within an existing trial. The SWAT on researcher attire will take place in the recruitment phase of the host experiment with day-based cluster randomization between white coat versus casual attire assignment. These attire assignments will be given along with the given week's recruitment assignments to the two Basotho research assistants who will work on the host trial. The nested study does not impact the procedures of the survey experiment. Researcher's attire during recruitment will remain the same throughout the survey delivery until the end of the participant's study visit.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults over 18 years of age
• Are comfortable reading and writing in Sesotho or English
• Attending as a patient in Butha Buthe-area hospital or health center for a known clinical diagnosis or standard health screening related to one of these illness categories:
• HIV
• Other sexually-transmitted infection (i.e. gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis)
• Breathing problem/ tuberculosis
• Heart issues/ blood pressure
• Diabetes/ sugar level
• Bone/ muscle problem
• Mental health
• Memory/ thinking problem
• Teeth/ mouth problem
• Cancer
• Maternal health (i.e. pregnancy, post-partum care)

Exclusion criteria

• Have participated in this study before
• Visible intoxication and/or distress, as deemed by trained research assistant
• Unable to make independent decisions; unable to complete informed consent
• Warrants emergency medical care
• Visiting the hospital for another person (i.e. their child, relative, partner)