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Table 1 Objects used to construct choice sets for the best-worst choice experiment

From: Priorities when deciding on participation in early-phase gene therapy trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a best–worst scaling experiment in caregivers and adult patients

Object

Description

Chance of improved muscle function

Data are positive about the chance of maintaining, and maybe improving, muscle function.

Chance of improved heart function

Data are positive about the chance of maintaining, and maybe improving, heart function.

Chance of improved lung function

Data are positive about the chance of maintaining, and maybe improving, lung function.

Benefit lasts about 10 years

Data suggest that gene therapy will last for 10 years. It may be shorter or longer, but no one knows. It is currently not possible to give a second dose of gene therapy. It may be possible in the future, but no one knows.

Chance of being in placebo group

The trial uses a placebo group, where some participants are randomly assigned to a group that gets an inactive (fake) treatment. People who get placebo during the trial would be eligible for gene therapy in the future.

Lowest dose may be too low for benefit

One of the trial’s goals is to test the right dose of gene therapy. If participants get a dose that is too low to work, they will not get another chance to use gene therapy.

Two muscle biopsies required

Being in the trial requires 2 muscle biopsies (one from the arm and one from the leg) to test for dystrophin production.

Not eligible for future trials

People who get gene therapy will most likely not be eligible for other clinical trials for the rest of their lives. It may someday be possible, but no one knows.

Limits later use of gene therapies or CRISPR

People who get gene therapy may not be able to use some newer types of gene therapy or gene editing (like CRISPR) for the rest of their lives. It may someday be possible, but no one knows.

Chance of long hospitalization

Data suggest a low risk of needing a long hospitalization of 4 weeks or more to recover from serious side effects.

Chance of death (low risk)

Data suggest a very low risk of death soon after using gene therapy. That risk should be even lower than we showed you in the first survey task.

  1. We asked participant to imagine they or their child had been invited to enroll in an early-phase gene therapy clinical trial for Duchenne. The objects and descriptions reflect the information provided to participants. We explained to participants that references to data in the descriptions referred to evidence collected from animal studies