Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: A conjoint analysis study on self -sampling for hum an papillomavirus (HPV) testing 
characteristics  
 
Version: 1 Date: 20 Jan 2020  
 
Reviewer: Patricia Villain  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
* Inclusion criteria: would have bee n interesting to have more information about past 
cervical screening history of participants as it might have affected how participants have rated 
each scenario  
* Table 3 results are not sufficient to draw any conclusions about one scenario being most 
or least acceptable. The methodologies used to define part -worth utilities and calculate 
importance scores need to be detailed.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following question s: 
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or sha res in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial com peting interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no comp eting interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal