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Table 4 Summary of potential attributes, their levels, and supporting quotes compiled from the Framework Analysis

From: Perspectives of patients, first-degree relatives and rheumatologists on preventive treatments for rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative analysis

Final Attributes

Lay Terminology

Key Quotations from Qualitative Data

Suggested Labels of Possible Levels

1) Accuracy of Test

How accurate is the test in predicting rheumatoid arthritis

“I guess I want to know how accurate the test is, and if there is any chance that you could maybe be told like oh, there is a very good chance of you getting it, but maybe finding out later that that actually wasn’t true.” – First-degree relative

“Because if you don’t get IgA [rheumatoid factor], for example, up to 50%, first degree relatives would be positive and I doubt all those are going to get arthritis, so.” - Rheumatologist

• High

• Medium

• Low

2) Certainty in Estimates

How strong is the evidence for the test and preventive treatments

“Whether there was enough evidence to show that that treatment actually has a chance of preventing.” – Patient

“Is there any data saying that coming from a high risk situation, what is the reduction?” – Rheumatologist

• Moderate

• Limited

• Very limited

3) Method of Administration

Whether it is an infusion, injection, tablet.

“You know, I went to Europe last year with my wife. We were gone for, you know, half a year. Now if I wasn’t able to do that because I had to go to a specific doctor twice a week to get this thing, no thanks. I’m good.” – First-degree relative

• Infusion

• Injection

• Tablet

4) Risk of RA and Risk Reduction with Treatment

The risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis without vs. with treatment

“Me personally, never [would consider testing]. Unless it’s 100% positive. Just with the test turn out.” - Patient

“[I would consider testing] if there were perhaps a treatment that were extremely preventive and very effective at lessening the risk of developing such a disease.” – First-degree relative

• High

• Medium

• Low

5) Risk and Seriousness of Side Effect

The risk of a side effect from treatment

“And I’ve had side effects with - I had a heart attack. I had my kidneys at stage - just the stage before. I needed to have dialysis, so. You know, there is side effects that you get that you have to watch out for.” - Patient

“Especially because of watching my mom with prednisone, if there’s anything that increase the mental risk that would be like huge for me.” - First-degree relative

• Major irreversible; minor reversible

• Major reversible; minor reversible

• Minor reversible

6) Who Recommends

Whether it is a health care professional, patient, or relative who recommends it

“[If I] learn that I had a high risk of developing RA, I would probably talk about it to people and then that is why I came up with who recommends it being important. And I think I would have to hear it from at least two sources to act on it,” – First-degree relative

• Health care professional

• Patient

• Relative

7) Opinion of Health Care Professional

Whether a health care professional or patient supports/wants to take test and/or preventive treatment

“I think that I also have a lot of trust at this point in what health care professionals say. And a lot of my own opinions, and ultimately in the end, like it would be my own opinion, but I just think a lot of my own opinion would come from what the doctor said” - First-degree relative

• Health care professional doesn’t prefer

• Health care professional is neutral

• Health care professional prefers