People receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for HIV have an array of preferences regarding potential long-acting forms of treatment for the virus, aidsmap reports.

Publishing their findings in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, researchers surveyed 263 HIV-positive adults on ARVs, recruiting them in the United States between February and August 2017.

The participants had an average age of 47. Fifty-six percent were male. Eighty-one percent were nonwhite.

Asked about their interest in a once-weekly pill form of HIV treatment, 66 percent of the participants said they would be very interested in such an option, 20 percent said they would be somewhat interested and 14 percent reported they were not at all interested. Asked about their interest in injectable treatments given every eight weeks, 39 percent reported being very interested, 23 percent somewhat interested and 38 percent not at all interested. Asked about treatment in the form of a match-stick-sized implant in the forearm that would last six months, 18 percent reported being very interested, 23 percent somewhat interested and 58 percent not at all interested.

Having more education was associated with greater interest in new types of ARV treatment, particularly injectable options. Also, being younger and having experienced long-term side effects of HIV treatment were associated with interest in injectable treatment. Taking a one-pill, once-daily ARV regimen was associated with less interest in changing to treatment with a once-weekly pill.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.