title: Healthcare Worker Preferences for Active Tuberculosis Case Finding Programs in South Africa: A Best-Worst Scaling Choice Experiment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Africa are at a high risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) due to their occupational exposures. This study aimed to systematically quantify and compare the preferred attributes of an active TB case finding program for HCWs in South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Best-Worst Scaling choice experiment estimated HCW's preferences using a random-effects conditional logit model. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to explore heterogeneity in preferences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  "No cost", "the assurance of confidentiality", "no wait" and testing at the occupational health unit at one's hospital were the most preferred attributes. LCA identified a four class model with consistent differences in preference strength. Sex, occupation, and the time since a previous TB test were statistically significant predictors of class membership.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings support the strengthening of occupational health units in South Africa to offer free and confidential active TB case finding programs for HCWs with minimal wait times. There is considerable variation in active TB case finding preferences amongst HCWs of different gender, occupation, and testing history. Attention to heterogeneity in preferences should optimize screening utilization of target HCW populations.
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Nathan N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Lyndsay M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Jerry M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Spiegel
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Larry D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Lynd
authors.affiliation: Institute for Heart and Lung Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: J Mark
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: FitzGerald
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Annalee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Faculty Of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Letshego E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nophale
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: Carlo A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*