ReviewBMC infectious diseases2023
Point-of-care testing in private pharmacy and drug retail settings: a narrative review.
Review in BMC infectious diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Role of Pharmacies in Providing Point-of-Care Services in the Era of Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence: An Updated Review of Technologies, Regulation and Socioeconomic Considerations.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Community Pharmacists' Perspectives on Antibiotic Misuse and Antimicrobial Resistance in Cyprus: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- What psychosocial factors shape HIV testing willingness among Chinese college students? A cross-sectional survey integrating PLS-SEM and fsQCA.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Pharmacist-Led Diagnostics: A New Frontier in Antimicrobial Stewardship.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about POCT in the UAE: a cross-sectional study.Future science OA · 2025Article
- Through the Pharmacist's Lens: A Qualitative Study of Antibiotic Misuse and Antimicrobial Resistance in Brazilian Communities.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Improving Vaccination Coverage Through Community Pharmacy Service Delivery in Nigeria: The COVID-19 Experience and Implications for Policy Review.Health care science · 2025Article
- Community pharmacy-led point-of-care testing (POCT): expanding roles and strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2025Article
- Article
- Understanding Acceptability and Willingness-to-pay for a C-reactive Protein Point-of-care Testing Service to Improve Antibiotic Dispensing for Respiratory Infections in Vietnamese Pharmacies: A Mixed-methods Study.Open forum infectious diseases · 2024Article
- Redesigning Pharmacy to Improve Public Health Outcomes: Expanding Retail Spaces for Digital Therapeutics to Replace Consumer Products That Increase Mortality and Morbidity Risks.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Evaluation of non-invasive diagnostic tools for diarrhea: a systematic review of point-of-care tests and biomarkers.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPoint-of-care testing (POCT) using rapid diagnostic tests for infectious disease can potentially guide appropriate use of antimicrobials, reduce antimicrobial resistance, and economise use of healthcare resources. POCT implementation in private retail settings such as pharmacies and drug shops could lessen the burden on public healthcare. We performed a narrative review on studies of POCTs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and explored uptake, impact on treatment, and feasibility of implementation.
methodsWe searched MEDLINE/PubMed for interventional studies on the implementation of POCT for infectious diseases performed by personnel in private retail settings. Data were extracted and analysed by two independent reviewers.
resultsOf the 848 studies retrieved, 23 were included in the review. Studies were on malaria (19/23), malaria and pneumonia (3/23) or respiratory tract infection (1/23). Nine randomised controlled studies, four controlled, non-randomised studies, five uncontrolled interventions, one interventional pre-post study, one cross-over interventional study and three retrospective analyses of RCTs were included. Study quality was poor. Overall, studies showed that POCT can be implemented successfully, leading to improvements in appropriate treatment as measured by outcomes like adherence to treatment guidelines. Despite some concerns by health workers, customers and shop providers were welcoming of POCT implementation in private retail settings. Main themes that arose from the review included the need for well-structured training with post-training certification covering guidelines for test-negative patients, integrated waste management, community sensitization and demand generation activities, financial remuneration and pricing schemes for providers, and formal linkage to healthcare and support.
conclusionOur review found evidence that POCT can be implemented successfully in private retail settings in LMICs, but comprehensive protocols are needed. High-quality randomised studies are needed to understand POCTs for infectious diseases other than malaria.
Indexed as
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.