ArticlePloS one2015
Barriers to Point-of-Care Testing in India: Results from Qualitative Research across Different Settings, Users and Major Diseases.
Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 45 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
45 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 76 citations in OpenAlex.
- Taking stock of 10 years of published research on the ASHA programme: examining India's national community health worker programme from a health systems perspective.Health research policy and systems · 2019Pooled it
- Towards point-of-care diagnostics of neglected tropical diseases using nucleic acid amplification tests.Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry · 2026Review
- HIV diagnostic implementation in the Dominican Republic: an in-depth qualitative context analysis for health technology developers.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Scaling up point-of-care hepatitis C testing in Canada: protocol for a multilevel implementation science study of clinical processes, barriers, facilitators and implementation strategies (SCALE-POCT study).Implementation science communications · 2025Article
- Point of care devices in primary care setting in india: A scoping review.BMC primary care · 2025Article
- Perceptions of shorter radical cure Plasmodium vivax treatment regimens and their implementation: a qualitative study among stakeholders in Cambodia.Malaria journal · 2025Article
- Acceptability and feasibility of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing using SD Biosensor by village malaria workers in Cambodia: a qualitative study.BMJ global health · 2025Article
- Geo-mapping of government healthcare facilities providing diagnostic laboratory services in Delhi, India: a pilot study.BMJ public health · 2025Article
- Using an intersectionality lens to explore barriers and enablers to hepatitis C point-of-care testing: a qualitative study among people who inject drugs and service providers.International journal for equity in health · 2024Article
- Sustainable solutions to barriers of point-of-care diagnostic testing services in health facilities without laboratories in the bono region, Ghana: a qualitative study.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- Implementation of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing for Plasmodium vivax case management, a mixed method study from Cambodia.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Experiences and perceptions of urine sampling for tuberculosis testing among HIV patients: a multisite qualitative descriptive study.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Article
- Leading from the frontlines: community-oriented approaches for strengthening vaccine delivery and acceptance.BMC proceedings · 2023Article
- Do private providers initiate anti-tuberculosis therapy on the basis of chest radiographs? A standardised patient study in urban India.The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia · 2023Article
- Evidence from the first Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) randomised controlled trial in India: SMAs increase the satisfaction, knowledge, and medication compliance of patients with glaucoma.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Components of Out-of-Pocket Expenditure and Their Relative Contribution to Economic Burden of Diseases in India.JAMA network open · 2022Article
- User perspectives and preferences on a novel TB LAM diagnostic (Fujifilm SILVAMP TB LAM)-a qualitative study in Malawi and Zambia.PLOS global public health · 2022Article
- Community-based point-of-care testing to identify new HIV infections: A cross-sectional study from Pune, India.Medicine · 2021Article
- Can Patient Navigators Help Potential TB Patients Navigate the Diagnostic and Treatment Pathways? An Implementation Research from India.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSuccessful point-of-care testing, namely ensuring the completion of the test and treat cycle in the same encounter, has immense potential to reduce diagnostic and treatment delays, and impact patient outcomes. However, having rapid tests is not enough, as many barriers may prevent their successful implementation in point-of-care testing programs. Qualitative research on diagnostic practices may help identify such barriers across different points of care in health systems.
methodsIn this exploratory qualitative study, we conducted 78 semi-structured interviews and 13 focus group discussions in an urban and rural area of Karnataka, India, with healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, specialists, traditional healers, and informal providers), patients, community health workers, test manufacturers, laboratory technicians, program managers and policy-makers. Participants were purposively sampled to represent settings of hospitals, peripheral labs, clinics, communities and homes, in both the public and private sectors.
resultsIn the Indian context, the onus is on the patient to ensure successful point-of-care testing across homes, clinics, labs and hospitals, amidst uncoordinated providers with divergent and often competing practices, in settings lacking material, money and human resources. We identified three overarching themes affecting point-of-care testing: the main theme is 'relationships' among providers and between providers and patients, influenced by the cross-cutting theme of 'infrastructure'. Challenges with both result in 'modified practices' often favouring empirical (symptomatic) treatment over treatment guided by testing.
conclusionsEven if tests can be conducted on the spot and infrastructure challenges have been resolved, relationships among providers and between patients and providers are crucial for successful point-of-care testing. Furthermore, these barriers do not act in isolation, but are interlinked and need to be examined as such. Also, a test alone has only limited power to overcome those difficulties. Test developers, policy-makers, healthcare providers and funders need to use these insights in overcoming barriers to point-of-care testing programs.
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