ArticleBJGP open2024
Barriers, enablers, benefits, and drawbacks to point-of-care testing: a survey of the general practice out-of-hours service in Scotland.
Article in BJGP open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- A Rational Optimization Approach for the Development of a Multiplexed Lateral Flow Immunoassay: Detection of Nonepithelial Ovarian Cancer Markers in Human Serum.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Diagnostic equipment and point-of-care tests in Norwegian emergency primary healthcare clinics: a cross-sectional study.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2025Article
- GPs' acceptability and feasibility for using point-of-care tests for cancer in primary care: a qualitative interview study.BJGP open · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe general practice out-of-hours (GPOOH) service is under pressure to treat more patients in less time, while reducing referrals and minimising diagnostic errors. Point-of-care (POC) testing involves rapid clinical tests that can be used to generate results during the consultation, and has the potential to facilitate managing these competing demands safely.
aimTo describe current availability of POC tests in GPOOH in Scotland, and identify barriers, enablers, benefits, and drawbacks to its use. DESIGN &
settingCross-sectional mixed-methods study, which surveyed opinions of clinicians working in the GPOOH service in NHS Scotland.
methodAn electronic questionnaire was developed, designed, piloted, and distributed to clinicians, which had closed questions and areas for free text.
resultsIn total, 142 responses were received. Urine dipstick testing (99.2%), pregnancy tests (98.5%), oxygen saturation (97.7%), and blood glucose testing (93.9%), were the only POC tests commonly available in GPOOH in NHS Scotland. There was strongest support for the provision of POC tests, particularly C-reactive protein (CRP; 79.4%), strep A (76.0%), and D-dimer (75.2%). Responders felt that POC tests would improve confidence (92.3%) and safety (89.8%) surrounding clinical decision making, improve patient satisfaction (80.6%), and reduce hospital and secondary care referrals (77.5%). Barriers to POC test use were availability of the test kits and machines (94.5%), training requirements on how to use the machine (71.1%) and interpret results (56.3%), and time to do the test (62.0%).
conclusionFew POC tests are in regular use in GPOOH in Scotland. GPOOH clinicians are supportive of using POC testing. They identified a number of benefits to its use, with very few drawbacks. Increased provision of POC testing in GPOOH in NHS Scotland should be considered urgently.
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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.